felixonline.co.uk @felixImperial /FelixImperial [email protected] Keeping the cat free since 1949 issue 1597 February 13th 2015 Union Council votes in favour of Inside... How solar energy is closing Weeks Hall evolving Hall may turn into childcare facilities for staff News, page 6

Science 12-13

Felix previews the Imperial students Cricket World Cup dive head first into RAG Week Sports 46-47

Steven Cowley: physics, fusion and hair

Felix covers the Features 10-11 Council votes to reduce charity events that rent of Acton halls have taken over campus News, pages 4 and 5 News 7 2 13.02.2015 THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON FELIX This week’s issue... [email protected] Felix Editor Philippa Skett CONTENTS EDITORIAL TEAM Editor-In-Chief I’m too tired to think PHILIPPA SKETT News 3–8 Deputy Editor PHILIP KENT Features 10–11 Treasurer Science 12-14 of a decent title here THOMAS LIM Technical Hero Games 15 LUKE GRANGER-BROWN his week Union Council made Fun Felix Fact: I sit on Council and Music 16–17 a lot of decisions that could get a vote as the PG Non Faculty News Editors potentially affect students in Representative, not as Felix editor, CAROL ANN CHEAH T KUNAL WAGLE Television 18 years to come. We passed a paper meaning I represent part of the condemning the Counter Terrorism Business School. Its odd how these Comment Editor Film 29 Bill, another outlining our intentions things work out. TESSA DAVEY to lobby College to divest from fossil Debra Humphris, who was present Welfare 20 fuels, another stating our plans at the Union Council meeting on Technology Editors JAMIE DUTTON to save Pembridge Hall and yet Tuesday, told the students there that OSAMA AWARA Arts 27–34 another about the rent prices for College would listen to the decisions accommodation. made about rent prices, although Science Editors Travel 35–37 However, all these decisions don’t again we can’t be certain they will LAUREN RATCLIFFE really mean anything unless those until it is set in stone. JAMES BEZER Hangman 38–39 outside of Union Council listen to our THIS WEEK’S EDITORIAL Only last term, when the Union Games Editors views, which isn’t always guaranteed Council did vote to condemn the MAX EGGL Puzzles 40–41 to happen. Although we have agreed exactly. bursary changes, the College changed CALUM SKENE that Weeks Hall is inefficient in space Union Council is a group of them anyway. Clubs & Societies 42–44 use, and therefore if College were to about 30 students that have been Although Union Council isn’t the Arts Editors FRED FYLES close it we would be happy with this, elected into various other Union only way students are represented, KAMIL McCLELLAND Sports 45–48 we have disagreed with the closure of volunteering positions, like Faculty it seems to be the most effective in Pembridge Hall. Union Presidents, Academic Affairs getting the views about students Music Editors College could simply close down Officers, Management Group across. However, it can seem quite GRACE RAHMAN that hall too if need be, since Union Chairs and the like. There are also remote as a body; unless those lucky What’s on this Television Editors Council doesn’t have the remit to representatives that are elected few students that represent their GIULIA GABRIELLI week: prevent that from happening. The purely to sit on Council and represent faculty talk to their students and gage JOHN PARK Union Council’s remit is actually their Faculty, and they are members their opinions and ideas, having a rep pretty narrow: we can mandate and of Council too. They all get one vote can be pretty pointless. Film Editors Artsfest 2015 lobby other powerful people as much each, and decide to either accept You can now see how your various ELLEN MATHIESON All week JACK STEADMAN as we like, but at the end of the day, or reject various papers and their representatives votes for you, as JOHN PARK Music, dance, and art Union Council power simply lies with proposals. voting records are now public on the fact that they are considered to Anyone can take a paper proposing the Union website. So, if you are events on campus all Web Editor represent the entirety of the student things to Council, we just vote on interested in papers in the future, let JUNE GAN week. They are all free of body and other people have to do whether or not something in the your rep know how you feel about it. Fashion Editor charge, so take a break to what we want for us. paper has the backing of the Union And, if they don’t vote in a manner CECILE BORKHATARIA enjoy some culture. See I get the impression from talking Council. Proposals have to be you agree with, feel free to get in to people this week that many don’t specific too: they have to mandate touch with them and ask why. They Food Editors the roundup on page 43. actually know what the Union Officer Trustees to do something, Officially Represent the Student CAROL ANN CHEAH Council is, so instead of being all like lobby College on our behalf, or Voice after all, even if sometimes they Coffee Break Editors Imperial Questions whiney and opinionated this week, I tell the Trustee Board what we agree seem to be shouting into the wind. TESSA DAVEY thought I would give you a rundown or disagree on. For a body that is ELLEN MATHIESON Live of who makes up the Official Voice Officially The Student Voice, we are PHILIPPA SKETT Wednesday 18th February of the Students and what they do very co-dependant. FELIX EDITOR Travel Editor Grill College staff and YUNG NAM CHEAH Union hacks – tough Hangman Editor questions more than SKILLIPPA PHETT welcome. Submit your Welfare Editors Have you filled out theFelix DIBA ESBATI question and you could be CHANON WONGSATAYANONT in the audience live. You Sex Survey yet? Clubs and Societies Editor can also watch online. BEN HOWITT There’s still time! Completely anonymous and secure: www.felixonline.co.uk/sexsurvey Sport Editor http://imperialcollege.tv/ KUNAL WAGLE questions-live/ COPY EDIT TEAM SKETT’S BOX OF SHAME Felix, Offices Beit Quad, Prince Consort Road, Copy Chiefs STEPHEN BALL London SW7 2BB ELLEN MATHIESON - Thanks to a diligent student who noticed the error in my editorial Email: [email protected] Copy Editors last week. WHAT AM I LIKE Tel: 020 7594 8072 ANNINA SARTOR LOL? www.felixonline.co.uk TOM RIVLIN BEN HOWITT JUNE GAN If there’s anything we’ve missed, Printed by Iliffee Print Cambridge, MICHAEL FAGGETTER or glaring errors to mention, let Winship Road, Cambridge. MATTIN MIR-TAHMASEBI us know at [email protected]. Registered newspaper ISSN 1040-0711 JASPER MENKUS CECILY JOHNSON Copyright © Felix ABBY GOLDBLATT FELIX THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON 13.02.2015 3 News [email protected] News Editors Carol Ann Cheah and Kunal Wagle Students organise debate about Animal Testing

PHILIPPA SKETT on animal testing. The audience was Each speaker was given time FELIX EDITOR jam packed with students and staff to present their arguments, and alike, all interested to hear the views then people were able to pose of the speakers on animal testing in predetermined questions to the he Animal Protection and science. speakers. People were able to submit Education Society (APES) ran The speakers included Maggie questions before online or to the club Ta successful talk addressing Dallman, the head of the Animal in person beforehand. animal testing last week, including a Welfare and Ethical Review Body The speakers spoke about the speaker from People for the Ethical at Imperial College, Dr Julia Baines, current animal testing methods, the Treatment on Animals (PETA). the the UK science advisor for PETA, development of alternative methods. The debate, titled “Animal Testing: Dr Brett Cochrane, the the Head of Maggie Dallman was also asked if Vital or Unnecessary?” was held in Science from the Dr Hadwen Trust; there had been any changes to College SAF last Tuesday, and featured four and Tom Holder, a representative protocol or practice since the British speakers who all had varying stances from Speaking of Research. Union Against Vivisection (BUAV) “exposed” methods for animal testing in Imperial labs back in 2012. Their accusations against Imperial for malpractice were unfounded. Dallman answered that basically nothing had changed, as nothing was being done incorrectly in the first place. Felix spoke to Kayla Chiew, Chair of APES and Marielle Deconinck, who is the club’s Secretary. They started planning the event last term, and initially wanted a speaker from BUAV, but found it quite difficult to organise. However, apart from that, they were pleased with their event and how it went. Maggie Dallman spoke at the event Photo: Kayla Chiew “We were really nervous at first about turnout because it was our first APES is still in its first year, definitive view on animal testing, but event, but we had 40 people sign up to and this was their first event with are keen to stimulate debate over a come along and were very happy with outside speakers. APES currently variety of topics concerning animal Photo: Kayla Chiew the turnout!” has 29 members, and do not have a welfare.

Imperial win The Downton Abbey Creator visits Imperial College STEPHEN BALL on a trip out on Jezebel. The 1916 season of Downton Abbey, starring Bhangra Showdown NEWS REPORTER fire engine, driven by current 4th as the Downton Estate Fire Engine. year student, Ellis Hudson, took Members of RCS Motor Club, the the Fellowes for a drive through student society who look after Jezebel, Kunal Wagle reports as College team ulian Fellowes, creator of Kensington and Hyde Park. Despite were involved as extras on the show. wins in Wembley Arena Downton Abbey, visited Imperial the cold weather, Julian Fellowes A spokesman for the Club said that: JCollege on Friday 6th February for described the ride as “[a] big finish “Lord Fellowes wasn’t there during ast week the team from to provide homes for abandoned a tour of research labs and met with to the morning – so thrilling. The the filming with Jezebel, so we are Imperial College London won girls in Punjab, India, Variety: The College President, Professor Alice clanging of the bell is something really glad that we got to introduce Lthe Bhangra Showdown at Children’s Charity, a UK based Gast. Their tour finished with a trip that brings out the child in all of us I him to her today after her starring Wembley Arena. The event, which charity that provides funding for out on Jezebel, the RCSU’s fire engine think!” role in the show!” was in its eighth year, was organised children’s hospitals and youth clubs, mascot, who appeared in Downton Jezebel appeared in the latest by seven committee members from and Medecins Sans Frontieres too. Abbey last September. the Imperial Punjabi Society. In Aman Dhanwal, co-captain of the Lord Fellowes and his wife visited previous years the competition has winning Bhangra team, said “We are South Kensington last Friday, where been held at the Hammersmith incredibly thrilled about our win. The they visited the Royal British Legion Apollo, and was being held in North performance was a culmination of Centre for Blast Injury Studies. London for the first time. months of hard work, training and The Centre is run as collaboration Nearly four thousand students dedication from the team and we are between military and civilian had been expected to attend, who so happy our passion came across on scientists into the reduction and were treated to some exceptional stage. The team became a real family treatment of injuries caused by blast performances from eight dance and deserves every bit of credit for waves, such as those produced by troupes. Imperial won the event, with how much they put in to achieve this, IEDs or landmines. Birmingham following in second and as captains we cannot thank them As part of the tour, Lord and Brunel finishing in tied third place enough. A special mention goes to IC Lady Fellowes met with various with King’s College London. Punjabi Society who put on a truly Masters and PhD students who are Profits from the event went towards amazing show and made this process investigating how the loading and three different charities: these one we will never forget. Lifting the strains produced by blast waves affect included UK Friends of the Unique TBS trophy has been a dream come cells and biological tissue. Home (Punjabi), which raises money true.” The end of the visit culminated Photo: Thomas Angus 4 13.02.2015 THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON FELIX News [email protected] News Editors Carol Ann Cheah and Kunal Wagle Imperial bungee jumps into RAG week Philippa Skett reports on this year’s charity extravaganza, which included walking on fire, jumping from cranes and tunnelling.

his week saw two days of bungee jumping, one evening Tof fire walking, a lunchtime of pancake-tossing and just under 900 doughnuts; all in the name of Raising And Giving (RAG). RAG Week 2015 has seemingly taken over campus, with students unable to go anywhere without the shocking pink and custard yellow RAG logo leaping out from screens, signs, buckets, banners and hoodies. The week was organised by the RAG committee and other volunteers; over 30 students in total have come together to run the events throughout the week to raise money for three chosen charities. On Monday and Tuesday, a large crane loomed precariously close to Queen’s Tower, for the bungee-jumping pleasure of falling enthusiasts and onlookers. Students were able to purchase a ticket for £35, and were then required to raise a further £40 in sponsorship before throwing themselves from the crane parked between Queen’s Lawn and the Sherfield Building. Over 140 students and staff took part in the bungee jump, including some visiting from other London universities. George Butcher, a fourth year Mechanical Engineering student, told Felix afterwards how despite being a bit wary of heights, he was keen to give it a go. “I’ve never plummeted towards the Earth before, but after trying it, would be keen to do it again. Sorry RAG Chair Ben Fernando takes donations and left, whilst people buy doughnuts and chocolate nearby (bottom). George Butcher swings from the sky to everyone who heard me shout Photo: Ben Fernando. Right: Philippa Skett / Philip Kent (Steam Tunnels) profanities across Queen’s Lawn as I fell!” sporting custom made RAG hoodies brief information session. The Dean Queen’s Tower instead. colleges playing late into the night. The RAG Week Launch also took around campus this week, with Vice of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, On Thursday evening, RAG also The Oxford RAG society has also place during Monday lunchtime, Provost (Education) Debra Humphris Tom Welton, said, “I was amazed, ran their traditional Masquerade teamed with Imperial RAG for which saw the RAG Chair and also sporting her bright pink number it was more painful standing on the Valentines Ball, with a £4,000 bar the Megaraid this weekend, with Alice Gast give speeches about RAG when she attended Union Council on cold stone than walking across the hot tab. The Ball was held in Under the students travelling up to Oxford to and plans for the week. Tuesday. coals.” Bridge, a club in Fulham, which, as raise money there. Alice Gast said afterwards to Felix: In fact, staff involvement with He continued, “I’d do it again – the name suggests, is indeed under a Felix spoke to Arran Sayers, the “It’s been wonderful to see students RAG seems to have reached an all I’m glad I did it first and not last – bridge. RAG Vice Chair (Operations) and the and staff from across the College time high this year; Professor Tom standing in the queue and watching Other clubs and societies have RAG Champion for CGCU, about community come together to support Welton, Dean of Faculty of Natural people do it would have.” When asked also got involved in raising money; how the team had come together and RAG. Sciences, was seen walking over hot if he had any comments on RAG this the Science Fiction and Fantasy made the week possible. “I’ve been very impressed by all coals for charity on Thursday evening year, he concluded, “RAG is fab, it’s Society held a book sale with all “Everyone has put their heart and those who’ve given their time and too, raising £160 in the process. great that it raises a lot of money, but proceeds being donated to RAG, soul into helping out this week. energy to raise money for good causes, The Firewalk, where participants the really important thing about it is the IC Dodgeball team ran a charity “The Week has been a great success. particularly the RAG committee walked across burning hot coals people take the opportunity to think tournament, and many clubs also I’m extremely happy with all that has volunteers who’ve pulled together the barefoot, is a new edition to RAG about other people”. posed naked for the RAG charity happened and all the money that has week’s events.” week, but proved popular. The Tunnel tours under the campus and calendar. Various departments have been raised.” Senior College staff came together coals, as the supervisor explained, trips up the Queen’s Tower also were also run bake sales, with the proceeds Sayers is also shaving his head at to make pancakes for students, whilst was heated to around 600 degrees organised and ran by RAG. going to RAG too. the end of the week for Alzheimer’s the Royal College of Science Union Fahrenheit (around 315 Celsius) – Students could explore the disused Imperial RAG joined forces with Society, after his grandmother sadly (RCSU) lent out their own candyfloss this being “twice” the temperature tunnels that snake underneath the Royal College of Music (RCM), died due to the disease. machine to RAG to produce yellow that skin melts at. campus and stretch to South whose RAG Week coincided with Sayers is planning to shave his hair and pink candyfloss for students All participants were awarded a Kensington and beyond, or, if they Imperial’s. The RCM hosted a poker on Queen’s Lawn during lunchtime, watching the bungee jump. certificate for their efforts, and got prefer heights but didn’t fancy the night, which raised several hundred although he is quite nervous about College staff have also been seen to cross the coals twice following a bungee jump, could head to the top of pounds, and saw students from both it. “I’m worried I’m going to look a FELIX THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON 13.02.2015 5 News [email protected] News Editors Carol Ann Cheah and Kunal Wagle

From bottom photo going clockwise: A long shot down the tunnels under College, RCSU help with the candyfloss, Alice Gast and Muir Sanderson struggle to get to grips with pancakes, and Tom Welton takes to the fire walk Photo credit: Felix

bit like a bowling ball, or be at the Felix spoke to Ben Fernando, a for both days the weather stayed “We don’t really interact; we talk to week is £10,000, a figure Fernando is receiving end of some Breaking Bad third year Physicist and current relatively dry.” ensure when we plan our events they comfortable they will reach. jokes. RAG Chair, about the planning and Fernando also wanted to run a don’t clash but that is about it.” On Monday alone RAG raised “Plus I think I am going to miss my preparation for the week. He said zip line from the top of the Central It doesn’t look like RAG will be around £1700 in cash donations, and hair keeping me warm!” things had gone very smoothly, Library down onto Queen’s Lawn, but introducing a pub crawl similar to the have collected almost £4000 donated Other charities RAG are donating although the RAG launch event on apparently the scaffolding needed to infamous Circle Line pub crawl any through their website. to this year include Tiny Tickers, the Monday was the most difficult to set it up was too expensive. time soon either. The committee have already turned who endeavour to train professionals organise. Felix asked Fernando if Imperial Said Fernando, “I don’t think the their attention to next year’s RAG to detect heart conditions in young “Co-ordinating things for then was RAG would ever consider joining pub crawl fits in with the image we Week plans. children, St Mungo’s Broadway pretty tough, especially as we had the forces with the Imperial College want to promote, to be honest.” Fernando told us RAG is currently who are committed to helping the bungee jump, the band playing and School of Medicine Student Union Although the Week isn’t quite in talks with College over getting homeless, and the Mines Advisory also the senior College staff making RAG team, who had their RAG Week over yet, and there are still more timetabled afternoons off so all Group, who are dedicated to clearing pancakes. We also needed plans to last week, and he said it would be events planned for later this term, students could take part, so watch land mines in war torn countries. cover for bad weather, but luckily unlikely. the fundraising target from this this space! Every day I’m tunnellin’ Philip Kent takes Felix on a unique journey into Imperial’s tunnels.

For the first time in recent average-sized person – the walls Our guide explained the purpose of Queen’s Tower. Armed with sharpies, disorientated and lost. memory, a tour of Imperial’s were clad with large water, steam, the various services provided in the we added to the masses of graffiti In some cases, faulty pipes leaked famous underground tunnels were and drainage pipes as well as tunnels, which included extra-high on the concrete base. A few of us scalding hot high-pressure steam put on offer to the whole Imperial conduits for ICT cabling. voltage electricity for servicing the even climbed through the holes and into the tunnel, and other parts community. While previous tours The temperature varied wildly labs in ACE. One point of notice was stood directly in the centre of the were flooded. But by far the most have ran, one example being an as we walked, crouched, and (in the very long corridor underneath tower – our guide explained that dangerous part was the ladder to Alumni trip, this tour organised by some places) crawled through Exhibition Road over to South and in the past a homeless man would access the base of Queen’s Tower RAG was open to anyone with £25 the labyrinth of tunnels under Eastside. regularly spend the night in the – visitors had to also avoid the to spare. Imperial. Occasionally we would Our guide told us the route was concrete cavern. We ended our tour boiling hot uninsulated pipe placed Naturally, I bought my place as stop to admire various pieces of sealed years ago as part of a wider shortly after, climbing up a ladder conveniently above the ladder. soon as I was told about the sale, interest around the network – such modernisation scheme to keep and popping out of a trapdoor onto All in all it was a fantastic tour, and on Tuesday lunchtime, down as ancient graffiti sprawled all out squatters – the works included the Queen’s Lawn, much to the travelling somewhere usually the tunnels I went. The party I was across the walls from explorers addition of swipecard protection to bemusement of passers by. forbidden definitely gave the burst in entered through a oddly high past, the huge EDF heat and power all the doors, and modern lighting. In reflection, it’s quite clear of adrenaline and excitement I up door deep in a Blackett plant facility under EEE (this generates Through some of the oldest tunnels why students aren’t usually expected. room – the difference in heat was the infamous steam), and the over accessed through a boiling hot welcome down there – without My thanks to both the Estates striking! The rather small tunnel 100 year old paddle fan under sub-basement in Biochemistry, we the knowledge of someone who Division and RAG. I hope it continues was just about able to take a single RCS1. accessed the foundations of the knows the area, it was easy to get again next year. 6 13.02.2015 THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON FELIX News [email protected] News Editors Carol Ann Cheah and Kunal Wagle Union Council vote to support closure of Weeks Hall in Princes Gardens

Philippa Skett reports from meeting that brands hall “an inefficient use of space”

nion Council voted this week to support the closure Uof Weeks hall in order to transform it into space that could be used for childcare provisions for academics. The resolve was one of many from a paper that also included the suggestion to either close or keep Pembridge Hall open too. Union Council voted to support keeping it open, although Union Council cannot officially determine what College decides eventually to do with the properties. It was explained by Tom Wheeler, Imperial College Union President that, as Weeks halls is a listed building, it is difficult to renovate, and internal structures cannot be modified easily. He also said that Weeks, although containing 67 beds, has rooms with a much larger floor space, and as a whole, the hall is an “inefficient use of space.” He suggested that the hall could be used instead for childcare facilities for academics, in a move to address the faltering number of women academics that remain at Imperial throughout their career. Wheeler said during the meeting: “I am keen to fight tooth and nail to keep Pembridge hall, as I think it is essential for our accommodation portfolio, and we can also increase its capacity by using some of its excess annexe space. “I’m less passionate about Weeks. It could be put to better use.” The students present at Council Weeks Hall, but for how much longer?. Photo: Neville Miles initially were split in their decision to keep Weeks, so as Council Chair, Paul a significant enough proportion of senior team had allegedly not been where they don’t care about us.” Beaumont was allowed the casting Council had issues with the closure informed of the plans to close Weeks. Another student was unimpressed vote. After choosing to vote in favour before the vote was rerun. However, “Why did nobody mention this to the with the decision, stating on twitter: of keeping Weeks as accommodation he allowed the revote to go ahead wardening or senior team of Weeks? “How lovely for the 67 students who and to mandate college for its when challenged, and explained that: Surely our voices, if any, should be now have to live further away from renovation, a student present at “I don’t particularly like using casting heard.” campus. the meeting challenged Beaumont, votes to make democratic decisions.” Said an academic from Imperial: “Maybe it’ll turn out as useful as and asked for an explanation for his Wheeler also said to Felix after the “Devil is in the details, but it sounds Garden [hall] has.” decision. decision was made: “We admit that bad for students who want to live Garden Hall, also situated in Ben Fernando, RAG Chair, then a reduction of 60 bed spaces close cheaply and close to College.” Princes Garden but relatively cheaper asked to rerun the vote after the to campus is a loss, however it was Said another Felix reader on our in price than other halls in Eastside student challenged the chair, and a mature decision taken by Union "It sounds facebook group: “I’m really sad to and Southside, was closed in 2013. those present were forced to vote "I’m less Council to focus the lobbying and bad for hear this. It’s decisions like these The hall was shut by the College again. After this new vote, enough passionate campaigning resources of the Union that is a large part of the reason despite students protesting against people changed their vote, and on saving Pembridge, a hall that can students why Imperial doesn’t have the the closure. decided against mandating College to about be saved.” who want strong alumni network of other There has recently been keep Weeks as a student hall. Weeks. However, those outside of the to live universities.” construction work on the building, Paul spoke to Felix after the It could meeting were less than impressed Others said it was a sad decision, and College Chaplaincy, the multi- meeting, and explained that he with the news that Weeks may no cheaply although one did describe it as faith centre for Imperial, was moved used his casting vote to support be put to longer be used as halls. and close “typical.” Another continued, into Garden Hall after renovations the ongoing use of Weeks Hall as better use" One person on twitter was not to College." “It does go along with Imperial’s were done on the East Basement of accommodation because he thought happy that the wardening and hall accommodation strategy - the one Beit where it was previously based. FELIX THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON 13.02.2015 7 News [email protected] News Editors Carol Ann Cheah and Kunal Wagle Union Council votes in favour of new rent proposals Philippa Skett reports as Council reduce the rent for new halls in Acton

tudents present at Union Council increasing it from £174 to £200. this week voted in favour of new Wilson will see a slight decrease from Srent proposals, which included £153 to £150 a week on average. lowering the suggested rates for the A union spokesperson new student accommodation based was keen to Current Rent Prices £250 in Acton. highlight that Prices voted in by Union Council The new hall, now named this does mean Woodward, will open next academic there will be £200 year; students will face a commute more affordable time upwards of thirty minutes to get accommodation to campus. across the entire £150 Students sitting on Council were portfolio – asked to choose between three although, since the different proposals for future rent average price of rent £100 prices of all student halls, with on the whole doesn’t one being the rent prices that are change from £166, currently in place as suggested by it won’t mean that £50 Woodward College. accommodation has Wilson Pembridge All proposals had to ensure that got any cheaper in Weeks Southside the average rent for a room across general. £0 Eastside all halls is £166 a week for a 39-week Wheeler also pointed Beit contract, but two out of the three that these are just reflected a higher price in halls closer averages, and there are to campus to average out a lower price still major discrepancies for rooms in Woodward. between room prices even within College had previously suggested the same hall. Some halls contain up An artist’s impression of Woodward Halls in Acton. Photo: Berkeley First that hall prices in Acton would to four price brackets, making hall The graph shows current and proposed rent prices for per week. Graph: Ben Howitt average £158 a week, but after pricing a complex topic. discussions between Imperial College He also pointed out that there answers when it comes to balancing The paper covered a number of “It is still early days but we need to Union President Tom Wheeler and is a preference for cheaper rent and hall provisions: “We can’t topics concerning rent prices and hall re-evaluate our portfolio. There is a Muir Sanderson, the Chief Financial accommodation in general, but due give you cheap [rooms] and also give usage. It also included a breakdown of large residential tower [at Imperial Officer of College, it was suggested to the nature of South Kensington, you Eastside.” rent, showing the costs for cleaning, West] there, and that could also be by Imperial College Union that the reducing the prices of halls near According to Wheeler, College maintenance, facilities management, used for accommodation for our cost be brought down to an average of campus is difficult. currently has no data that shows and wardening. staff.” around £120 instead. Debra Humphris, the Vice Provost whether students would prefer to live It was also hinted by Humphris Wheeler said to Felix after This does not include the travel (Education) was present at the close to campus or pay less and live that there may one day be halls at the meeting: “It is fantastic that costs students will have to cover to meeting, and was keen to stress the further away. Imperial West too, although it is “still as a result of our lobbying and get to and from the South Kensington College’s commitment to “increasing The Residential Experience Review, early days”. Imperial West is the new campaigning we have secured lower campus. transparency” when it comes to hall run by College at the end of 2013, did campus based near White City, which rent for over 1,000 future students However, for this average to come prices. Humphris commissioned investigate whether students would is still under development. It will with the new approach to College down to £120, other halls nearer to the Residential Experience Review like to pay less for rent or live closer, house new chemistry facilities. accommodation. campus would have to see a rent hike back in 2013, to investigate the but as separate issues. Unsurprisingly, Humphris stressed that they are “It is indicative of the improved as a result. This included increasing quality of accommodation, and how students answered that they would committed to ensuring all first year relationship that we now have with the average rent of a hall in Eastside accommodation can be improved. like to have both options, but there students have the opportunity to live College that we are being given these to £215 from £191, and for Southside, She also warned however that there was no way to cast a preference in halls. “If we are to achieve our first figures, let alone that we are engaging are no straightforward and easy between the two. year guarantee, we need clear plans. on these difficult decisions.” Union Council condemns Counter-Terrorism Bill

and does not allow to happen on They continued, saying that they people who have travelled overseas complaints about the perceived PHILIP KENT campus – currently both the Union didn’t want to remove all measures to fight for terrorist organisations, targeting of Muslims and Muslim DEPUTY EDITOR and College can veto speakers at an to prevent controversial speakers whereas the third part forces internet organisations in projects associated event before the room is booked. from speaking at universities – service providers to store data to with PREVENT, while others have College Chairman, Baroness Eliza highlighting the Union’s existing allow the authorities to identify a criticised installation of “covert” lso at Council this week was a Manningham-Buller has previously “rigorous” checking procedures – the person by their IP address. CCTV in Muslim communities in motion against the Counter condemned the bill in the House of feeling was that banning everyone The PREVENT strategy, introduced Birmingham. ATerrorism and Security Bill Lords. was not ideal as universities are a in 2003, which will become statutory Overall, the paper passed by a (CTSB), which is currently concluding Concern was raised over whether forum for debate. Tom Wheeler, as part of the bill, aims to prevent margin of 26-3 after a number its passage through the Houses of the Union is actually able to do Union President, said sources in radicalisation of potential terrorists. of minor modifications. Despite Parliament. anything over the bill, as it will College felt it was a “hostile takeover It is comprised of three sections the recent passing of a policy to The paper, submitted by Jawaad shortly receive Royal Ascent. When of the university sector by the aiming to challenge “the ideology publically list the voting record of Farooq and seconded by Nida the bill’s provisions become statutory, government”. that supports terrorism and those Council members, Abigail de Bruin Mahmud and Shamim Ahmed, both College and the Union would The bill itself is designed to impose who promote it”, protect “vulnerable supported a move to keep the voting argues that the bill “discourages be in breach of the law if they chose a number of restrictions on people people”, and support “sectors and record as private to reduce the chance the free expression and analysis of to ignore it. The paper’s supporters, or organisations suspected to be institutions where there are risks of members experiencing what she ideas.” They note that, were the bill however, argued that it doesn’t stop affiliated with terrorism. The first of radicalisation”. It is in this third called a “personal attack” as a result of to pass, the Union would lose the the Union from campaigning against part of the bill allows the Home category that universities fall. their vote. ability to control what events it does the bill. Secretary to remove passports from However, there have been 8 13.02.2015 THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON FELIX News [email protected] News Editors Carol Ann Cheah and Kunal Wagle Union shop to sell not for profit sanitary products

PHILIPPA SKETT essentials for women should be sold FELIX EDITOR at the lowest cost possible.” Kaye spoke to the Union Management Team who dictate the hristopher Kaye, Deputy prices in the shop, and determined President (Welfare), achieved the financial implications reducing Cvictory in Union Council this the profit margin may have. The week when his paper on reducing the management team was amenable to cost of female sanitary products was the idea, so long as the student body passed by those present. also supported it, so Kaye took the The paper outlined his plans paper to Union Council, which met to reduce the cost of the sanitary last Tuesday. products available in the Union Shop Council passed the paper, although Extra on the Sherfield Walkway, not without debate. One member which currently are sold at a price complained that if these ‘essentials’ that includes a profit margin between are to be sold without a profit margin, 30% and 40%. others, “such as water”, should be sold Kaye started looking into the issue without a margin too. Kaye told the a few months prior to the Council member that he should then just get meeting, after receiving an email it out the tap. from a student concerning the From March, the products will be availably of sanitary produce on approximately a third cheaper. campus. Said Kaye, “it was an issue I Felix spoke to Kaye, who told us became very motivated about fixing.” “the battle continues - I want there to “A big part of my manifesto was be more vending machines available about engaging women in science so 24 hours a day for students and staff it just seemed right to me that basic alike.” Shop Extra on the Walkway will sell the discounted produce from March. Photo: Imperial College London Ukraine ceasefire deal reached at Minsk Cecile Borkhataria discusses the result of 17 hours of talks

n Wednesday, the leaders of and humanitarian issues.” all separatist forces will be withdrawn progress even led him to snap a pencil. however, states that Kiev will only Russia, Ukraine, France and Although German chancellor from the September ceasefire line. The discussions come after restore full control of the border by OGermany met in Belarus’s Angela Merkel said that the deal Residents of Donestsk, a town many casualties in the region, with the end of this year. capital to discuss bringing peace to gave “a glimmer of hope”, she that has suffered a great number estimates placing the number of US President Barack Obama has Ukraine after months of violence acknowledged that all the leaders of casualties as a result of shelling, deaths at a figure of over 5,300 people been put under pressure to provide between Ukrainians and pro-Russian realise that “there is very, very have been cautious to greet the since April 2014. The battle between military aid to Ukraine’s forces, but separatists. The agreed ceasefire much work still to do.” Angela news with complete optimism. On the Ukrainian forces and the pro- a number of European believers will come into full effect on Sunday Merkel and the French president Thursday, some rallied outside the Russian separatists has escalated in feel that this would complicate the at midnight and will also involve Francois Hollande have also asked rebel government’s headquarters, recent weeks, with bloodshed rising conflict and make matters worse. withdrawing heavy weaponry from the European Union to support the declaring ‘today is a holiday.’ rapidly. Meanwhile, Russia’s economy is in the frontlines of the conflict. ceasefire. However, some rebels expressed Perhaps one of the biggest points freefall, following economic sanctions After the lengthy talks, Russian The specifics of the agreement their disappointment with the new of contention in the ceasefire is how enacted by the West, despite the fact president Vladimir was the first will involve the withdrawal of heavy agreement. ‘Sputnik I Progrom’, a Kiev will be able to achieve control of that Russian government officials leader to announce the ceasefire, weapons in a two week period, nationalistic Russian publication, their borders once again, given that continue to deny aiding separatists. adding “There is also a political beginning on the 17th of February. even labelled the agreement as a Russian volunteers and troops have The long talks in Minsk highlighted statement. The first thing is Provisions will also be made to “betrayal of all that th rebels fought allegedly crossed it to provide the the urgency in resolving the conflict. constitutional reform that should provide amnesty for prisoners for”. rebel’s with aid. The talks followed a visit from take into consideration the legitimate involved with the conflict, and all The discussions in Minsk appeared The border has been difficult to Merkel and Hollande to Kiev and rights of people who live in Donbass. foreign militia will also be removed to be a difficult, tense and drawn out secure, and at present, many of the Moscow last week, in an attempt to There are also border issues. Finally from Ukrainian territory. Key to the affair. During the discussions, Putin’s border crossings are controlled by resolve the conflict. there are a whole range of economic ceasefire deal is the agreement that apparent frustration at the lack of rebels. The ceasefire agreement, Union Page

The Big Elections 2015 - YOU can stand.. and we can help! The elections are open to all students, Undergraduates and Postgraduates alike. You can nominate yourself for one or more of the positions available during our Nominations period 2 February - 1 March.

You might have a few queries or worries about taking part in our elections. Are you an International student and not sure if you can run because of your visa? Not sure if you can do it because you’re a Postgradutate student? Worried you don’t have enough experience? Don’t worry - it’s no problem for you to stand in our election. We’re running a number of information sessions before and during the Nomination period so that you can learn more about making the most of your campaign.

You can also watch students like you who ran for election last year tell thier story of what it’s really like to run for a position and what to expect from the role.

For more information about The Big Elections 2015 go to: imperialcollegeunion.org/elections Free STI Clinic: Monday 23 February

Free STI testing at Imperial College Union, provided by the Terrence Higgins Trust and Earls Court Health & Wellbeing Centre.

Gonorrhoea, chlamydia and HIV tests will be available, as well as contraception and sexual health advice.

Appointments are free, but availability is limited.

Please email [email protected] to request a slot, including your preferred time.

Student Volunteering Week

Student Volunteering Week is almost here! During the last week of February, we will be giving you the chance to see what you can gain and the difference you can make through volunteering. From inspiring school pupils on a trip to Imperial, to helping feed the homeless with Souprun, or trying out micro-volunteering - there’s something for everyone, and something to suit even the busiest schedules.

To make your mark, sign up online at:

imperialhub.org/svw

imperialcollegeunion.org 10 13.02.2015 THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON FELIX Features [email protected] EditorFeatures Philippa Editor Skett VACANT Getting close to Cowley Xuan Chen interviews one of the country’s most influential man about science, energy and how he maintains his hair

rofessor Steven Cowley is the At the end of the day there is but is very hard to actually do. As a CEO of the United Kingdom nothing I like better than to sit with scientist, that’s what’s also makes it so PAtomic Energy Authority a problem in front of me which isn’t attractive; if it were easy, it wouldn’t and a part-time professor in plasma solved. And I have less and less time be as much fun! physics here at Imperial College. But to do that. You don’t choose a career There are, throughout history, that’s not what catches the attention in physics to become a celebrity. I do human quests where we try to of an entire cohort of physics what I do because I want to see fusion conquer something, like flying. undergraduates every year – it’s his solved in my lifetime, and fusion has For hundreds of years people tried lectures, where his charisma and immense challenges ahead of it. to fly and when the breakthrough confidence along with sheer passion One of the scientists I’ve been happened, the whole world suddenly for the subject captivates the young reading up on lately is Enrico Fermi, changed forever. audience. someone very influential in the I think fusion is like that and The fact that someone so important first nuclear experiments. My thesis for me, that was one of the great still has to make trips into Lecture advisor had lectures from Fermi. attractions; to be really involved with Theatre One to teach undergraduate Fermi was a godlike figure, but a something that is really difficult that material to a bunch of unruly very humble man, who liked nothing would really change the world. I saw students is baffling to some. better than to solve equations, and to that it would be helpful; I saw that it Steve is preparing a presentation work with students. would be something that really has to on a small laptop when I arrive at his That’s the fun thing about physics be pursued, but also something I just office to interview him. The space, – not being looked up to, because he’s thought that it would be fun. And it which he shares with three other working with people. I’m working has been fun! academics, is modest, featuring a few with some young people, who get desks and chairs along with a worn- there faster than I do now, and that’s XC: How did you get into fusion? out sofa in the corner and a slightly just great fun to be with. I enjoy Did you choose fusion or did grubby plasma ball on the windowsill. physics for the social aspect: working fusion choose you? together with other scientists to solve Xuan Chen: So, tell us what you do, things together. SC: I decided to go into fusion when I in a (toroidal) nutshell? was in my final year of undergraduate XC: Exactly how important is studies. It was 1980 which was around Steven Cowley: I’m the CEO of the fusion to our future? the time of the first ‘oil shocks’. Oil United Kingdom Energy Authority, prices rose nearly 400% in a few and the Head of Association with SC: Think of it this way: we have a months, and it was becoming clear Professor Cowley, potentially the busiest man in the world, pauses to use a blackboard. inset: EURATOM – the European Atomic world which is very unequal, at the that we don’t have unlimited sources the fandom is strong with this one. Photo: main: Oxford Mail, inset: anonymous. Energy Community. This means that moment. Some people live very well, of fossil fuels, and we can’t burn all of I lead research into fusion, and even and consume lots of energy. And, them anyway. good-for-nothing student who didn’t though I’m a theoretical physicist, I some people don’t live very well, and At that time, a lot of research was work very much. When I went to run experiments, too. I still have some consume very little energy. going into the tokomak and it was Princeton to do my PhD, however, time to sit down and solve problems If we want to solve this inequality, becoming clearer that fusion was I was suddenly surrounded by as a theoretical physicist. That’s what and bring billions of people up to something that is possible; it could incredibly intelligent, hard-working I really enjoy, but that time gets the standard of living we enjoy, they be done! So I went to Princeton to people- at that time, everyone there shorter and shorter every day. are going to have to consume more do my PhD, as it was really carrying was working on string theory. energy – about a factor of two or out the forefront of physics research We used to get up at eight, work XC: You have three fellowships "There is three in the next forty years. at that time. After that, I carried on physics and solve problems until (Royal Society, Royal Academy nothing I How we’re going to supply that out postdoctoral research back eleven at night, and then go to the of Engineering, and Institute of energy without completely messing here at JET (Joint European Torus, bar. At 12:30 we would set our alarms Physics), and a Glazebrook medal like better up the atmosphere, I don’t know, "I was Oxfordshire), then went back to the and get back up at eight the next day for leadership in physics. Have I than to except if we can crack these hard a lazy, States for fifteen years. I came back to to keep going. That’s where I learnt missed anything out? sit with a scientific puzzles. In the long Imperial at around 2000. to be a physicist. About 10% talent, term, we have to think about solar, good-for- and 90% hard work and dedication. If SC: No. Awards are very important, problem advanced fission reactions in breeder nothing XC: What is your background? you’re an undergraduate at Imperial, and it’s lovely to receive them. I’m in front reactor, and fusion, the only ones student Were there any figures in your life you have the talent already. chuffed to receive awards, but more of me which have enough capacity to who didn’t who inspired you? My father was a scientist; he taught than anything else I want to see which isn’t sustain us. engineering at Cambridge, so I grew fusion happen in my lifetime. It is Fusion is a very attractive energy work very SC: I grew up in Cambridgeshire up in a family in which engineering that important that we solve this solved." source; it’s clean, and sustainable (at much." and did my undergraduate degree was very, very important. So even problem. least for the next 30 million years), at Oxford. At that time, I was a lazy, though I’m a theoretical physicist, I FELIX THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON 13.02.2015 11 Features [email protected] EditorFeatures Philippa Editor Skett VACANT

producing the next breakthroughs. I probably don’t get as much time as I’d like for interacting with students.

XC: Gentleman’s Quarterly (GQ) ranks you in the top 100 influential men in the country, ahead of Alexander Lebedev, Richard Branson, Danny A fusion Alexander, and Brian Cox. I also understand that you have two sons – as an influential man, how do you hope to influence them in their futures?

SC: I think your children have to find their own way – it’s a dangerous thing to expect them to live up to their of physics parents. They should decide what they should do with their own lives. You want your children to enjoy the things that you enjoy, but actually they will enjoy the things they enjoy. And that may not be physics, nor science – it could be anything. I think my sons are going to do different things than me. Being a good parent is about valuing what your children and value. XC: Okay – I have some general questions now, from other students who are also interested in you and your work. First of all – how do you keep your hair so luscious?

SC: (laughs) I don’t think it’s luscious. politics It’s going grey, like everyone else’s. But if I had to say, it’s probably due to my consumption of sweets.

XC: Are there noticeable differences in attitude towards scientists in the UK and the US?

SC: A bit. The American attitude believing that science can change the future in a big way is a lot stronger in the States than in Europe. Here people worry that things may lead to more pollution or troubles. I like the American can-do attitude, and the pioneer spirit. But to be honest, I’m an Englishman – I feel more at home Professor Cowley, potentially the busiest man in the world, pauses to use a blackboard. inset: in London. the fandom is strong with this one. Photo: main: Oxford Mail, inset: anonymous. XC: How much coffee do you enjoy the practical side of physics. drink? Another very influential figure was Shaun Wiley, one of the SC: Too much. I drink until my head mathematicians who cracked the hurts. Enigma code, who was also my maths teacher in high school. I think he in contact with students. Famously, XC: What advice would you give to had a big influence on me when I was Richard Feynman turned down a young scientists? seventeen or eighteen. and is interested in getting the best position at the Institute of Advanced He taught me to appreciate the out of British science. Everybody Study at Princeton because it had SC: The most important thing – satisfaction of solving puzzles, and recognises and is proud of our science no teaching. He proclaimed that don’t kid yourself you understand the privilege of being paid to do and technology base. They definitely teaching is what keeps you in contact something if you don’t. something you love. hold scientists in very high regard. with young people and young people "It is very are the ones who are going to solve "Don’t kid XC: Some of your second year fans XC: You also sit on the Prime interesting XC: Despite all this, you still have the next problems. As you get older yourself made this picture of you (inset). Do Minister’s Council for Science and to teach the undergraduate course as a scientist, you realise that you’re you have anything to say? Technology. How influential are to see how in Electromagnetism, as required not going to crack certain problems, you scientists in policy making? politicians by a professor. How important is but it would be really nice to see a understand SC: No comment. There are interact teaching to you? young person crack this problem. something embarrassing pictures of me out there SC: It is very interesting to see how When you’re teaching, you’re and that particular photo took ages. politicians interact with scientists. with SC: I like teaching, because even meeting people like yourself from if you The photographer was very fussy The Prime Minister is a very serious scientists." though what I teach is not at the very the next generation. Some people, in don’t.” and forced me to pose next to the man. He takes notes at every meeting, frontier of what we know, it puts me my class, I’d like to think are the ones electrical plant! 12 13.02.2015 THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON FELIX Science [email protected] Science Editor James Bezer & Lauren Ratcliffe Solar power is expanding: meet the third generation Joshua Emden on the story behind this ever evolving technolgy and what’s in store for the future in solar technology

n the last few years, the solar What’s all the fuss about? photovoltaic (PV) industry has Iexperienced a boom like never One of the biggest problems faced by before. In 2013, installed global PV c-Si cells is that they are limited to a capacity increased by just under 40%, maximum theoretical efficiency (i.e. from 102GW in peak conditions, or the maximum amount of the sunlight GWp, in 2012 to 139GWp in 2013. that hits a solar panel that can be Accessing the economies of scale converted into electricity) of around associated with this huge ramp up in 33% with solar efficiency tables in production, prices are falling below recent years consistently recording the milestone $1/Wp, according to an them at around the 25% mark. Imperial College London/Grantham This limit, known as the Shockley- Institute report last November. Some Queisser limit after its discoverers, countries are starting to reach “grid essentially exists due to the fact that parity” – a term which essentially sunlight reaches the Earth at many describes the potential for solar power different wavelengths, only some of to compete with conventional (fossil which can be absorbed by silicon cells fuel) generation in electricity markets to generate electricity. without the need for subsidies. By contrast, using combinations "Are these When people talk excitedly about of different semiconductors such as this success, they are almost entirely gallium arsenide and germanium, pesticides referring to crystalline silicon-based so-called ‘multi-junction’ (MJ) cells harmful to Photovoltaic solar power (c-Si PV). can expand the range of wavelengths humans?" Last year the International Energy absorbed by the cell overall, Agency estimated that c-Si’s market generating more electricity. To do share of all PV technologies had this requires sunlight to be highly grown to around 90%, with the concentrated via parabolic mirrors or remaining 9% constituting almost lenses onto the cell area and, as recent entirely of what’s known as Thin- laboratory tests by the Fraunhofer Film PV, a more flexible, less energy ISE in Freiburg have recorded, can intensive alternative seen as the produce staggering efficiencies of second generation of PV technologies. 46%. In fact, apart from a brief concern In actual fact, some of these over stability of silicon supply chains Concentrator Photovoltaic (CPV) in 2009 which allowed Thin-Film PV systems using MJ cells are already to take around a 15% wedge of the operational with one in Arizona market, c-Si has almost always been producing electricity with cell the vastly dominant solar technology. efficiencies of around 36%. Further Perhaps on the back of this modelling by Illinois State University success, there have been a wave of potential future CPV locations in of new technologies, the so-called the Southwest USA has shown that third generation solar technologies, any project which is situated in an which are hoping to capitalise on area with direct sunlight greater than 2 the enthusiasm felt in current solar 5.4 kWh/m – the amount of sunlight markets by exploiting some of the you might expect from a holiday in problems seen with traditional PV. Southern Italy as a very rough idea Indeed, despite its current – can have a higher Internal Rate hegemony, c-Si PV is by no means of Return than equivalent c-Si PV a perfect technology. Its recent and projects. historical success is arguably rooted in policy commitments. Not all Sunshine and Roses For example, Germany’s the "There have 330nm-thick film of organometal halide perovskite fabricated on a glass sheet. This film is revolutionary Feed-in Tariff for been a new Necessarily with every new the active element of Perovskite 20% efficient solar cells. Photo credit: TheGuardian silicon-based PV in 2000 encouraged technology, CPV has its drawbacks. industry standardisation, an wave of Unlike conventional c-Si PV at the right angle so that light can be This in turn pushes up both economic increasingly secure supply chain and technologies, which can produce electricity concentrated in the right direction, "CPV systems and energy costs, although studies global market acceptance. Of course, the so-called in normal daylight even with namely, onto the small and highly can only from the University of California, this should not be used to undermine cloud cover (although obviously efficient MJ cell area. As a result, Berkeley find that energy costs are c-Si PV’s success but, crucially, and third not as efficiently), CPV systems CPV systems often need highly function still generally regarded as competitive fascinatingly, this does mean there is generation can only function properly with accurate solar trackers to make sure with direct with conventional PV. room for improvement, as is always solar." direct sunlight, or Direct Normal they are always receiving as much sunlight." So it is not for everyone. CPV can the case with new tech. Irradiance (DNI), that hits modules direct light from the sun as possible. only really be deployed at utility-scale FELIX THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON 13.02.2015 13 Science [email protected] Science Editor James Bezer & Lauren Ratcliffe and would not be appropriate in the some of the more creative emerging and windows and even used as Future Potential and a Bright UK where (alas) we tend not to receive technologies, such as Perovskite cells cheap lasers according to research New Dawn much direct sunlight, nor would it and organic solar dyes employ more by the University of Cambridge. be suitable for many countries in flexible designs and applications for In this sense, the PV market has Perhaps the most interesting Northern Europe or Canada. On the solar PV. the potential to be opened up to aspect of these third generation PV other hand, places like the Atacama Starting with Perovskite, as a whole new sectors including those technologies is that they do not have desert in Chile, the Southwest USA technology which received lots of that involve aesthetic and stylistic many aspects in common. Where as already mentioned, vast swathes initial attention in the ‘90s, interest decisions about materials such as the CPV seeks to become the ultra- of Africa, parts of China and most in the technology has increased construction industry. efficient successor of c-Si PV in power of Australia could be ideal locations particularly in the last few years, Going even further, organic solar generation, Perovskite and organic for CPV with their near-constant with Nature calling Perovskite solar dyes have the potential to be printed solar dyes explore different markets supplies of sunlight. cell growth ‘one-to-watch’ in 2014. out onto thin polymers producing and designs altogether. Currently, CPV is only taking baby In part, this interest has come from reams of solar film at low cost and Hopefully this means, if and steps into the market with analyst a rapid increase in efficiency from low environmental impact. As may when these technologies become house IHS predicting that only 3.8% in 2009 to around 20% now, be expected, the efficiencies of these commercialised, they will not have to around 800MWp will be installed in coupled with potentially much less kinds of films are typically too low compete as each will fill a different the US by 2020 compared to around intensive and cheaper manufacturing to be competitive with conventional market nichem from industry to 7,000MWp in China alone if it is to processes than c-Si. Although solar markets. But – and this is design. meet targets set by its 13th Five-Year this efficiency is obviously low perhaps the whole point of these In the meantime, whilst c-Si reigns Plan. Nevertheless, CPV systems when compared to CPV, studies by technologies – if such innovative supreme, it is difficult to predict have huge potential with MJ cells Oxford Energy have suggested that designs can capture the public when said commercialisation may that have a scarily high theoretical Perovskite cells could compete with imagination, maybe they will not happen. Policy will inevitably play its maximum efficiency of 86%. Already current Thin-Film technologies have to. Already there has been the part, and indeed these technologies for CPV, China has comfortably the "Perovskite that have comparable efficiencies controversial project to build ‘solar can take encouragement from the largest projects in the world with two of 19-20%. Whilst this is certainly roads’ in USA, which some even “The fact that this was really how the solar 55+MWp plants in Qinghai province cells could beneficial to overall competitiveness, (wrongly) thought was a hoax when it market started in the first place. alone. compete Perovskite’s real trump card comes sought crowdfunding. With this new horizon is Whether these technologies can with current in its flexibility of application. With wave of PV technologies then, there starting take a meaningful slice out of c-Si Solar does Yoga an emphasis on diversity, Perovskite is genuine intrigue as applications of to look a market share remains to be seen; Thin-FIlm cells can be coloured in translucent the technology are starting to move whole lot naturally, there is still a long way to CPV and c-Si PV are both very flat technology.” glass, integrated into buildings well beyond the realms of traditional brighter.” go. But the horizon is starting to look and modular. Exploring alternatives, (so-called Building Integrated PV) power generation. a whole lot brighter.

Westlands solar park in Fresno County in the Central Valley of California. Photo credit: Proehl Studios/Corbis 14 13.02.2015 THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON FELIX Science [email protected] Science Editor James Bezer & Lauren Ratcliffe Making light work of ammonia Andrew Crawford on an eco-friendly way to make fertilisers

very nitrogen atom in every In nature, enzymes called chemical used by people nitrogenases have evolved over Eoriginates from nitrogen billions of years to catalyse the gas (N2) in the atmosphere, and conversion at ambient temperature this plethora of different uses is and pressure. This sounds better, but all accessed from one molecule: still needs a vast amount of energy (in ammonia. the form of ATP) to work. A perfect The production of ammonia nitrogen fixer would work efficiently from N2 is a fundamental chemical at mild conditions, or be coupled transformation called nitrogen to some plentiful renewable energy fixation. Plants need nitrogen to source, but has eluded all attempts at grow, and the major anthropogenic identification. use of ammonia is to produce the A new development addressing fertilisers essential to boosting crop this has recently been reported by yields, in order to feed the world’s Kanatzidis and co-workers, inspired growing population. by a ‘crazy idea’ and a biomimetic As well as being important, approach. They copied the mixture nitrogen fixation is also extremely of elements doing the work in difficult, because N2 is very, very nitrogenase (iron, molybdenum and unreactive. In N2 the two nitrogen sulphur), and prepared a chalcogel; atoms are connected by a strong triple a high surface area network that bond, which must be broken to form models a ‘solid state’ nitrogenase. ammonia. The clusters of atoms in the Unlike other molecules with triple chalcogel strongly absorb light, and bonds, it is the very first stage of crucially, are able to absorb in the breaking the N2 triple bond which is ultraviolet region. This causes high Ammonia is crucial for producing fertilisers. Photo: Wikimedia Commons the hardest part, limiting the possible energy excitations in the clusters, and approaches significantly. In fact, N2 Kanatzidis found that this energy a catalyst. The whole process also nitrogenase, this system would have is so stubbornly unreactive in almost could be harnessed to break the N2 uses water as the solvent, making it difficulty delivering the 200,000,000 every measurable way it is used as bond, leading to ammonia formation. greener than a ChemDraw logo. tonnes of ammonia we use annually. an inert gas in food preservation, There are a couple of really great As well as these good things, "Fertilisers, The authors are confident incandescent light bulbs, and aviation things about this work. Firstly, the however, there are also drawbacks. as well as that further work will deliver fuel tanks. concept works extremely well from an The N2 splitting works well, but the significant improvement in this area Consequently, all current nitrogen energy point of view. A system which "Making actual ammonia formation uses plants, (improvement, in fact, they say has fixation happens with a huge energy works at ambient conditions, and ammonia sacrificial chemical sources of H+ could be already started). So watch this space, cost. Man-made ammonia via the uses an abundant, renewable energy and e- (essential components of N2 derived and let this current report be an Haber-Bosch process uses massive source to pay the high cost of splitting uses nearly fixation), and is not as elegant as interesting proof of concept, en route o from energy temperatures and pressures (400 C N2 has a lot to be said for it. 2% of global current routes. to an appealing scenario where our and 250 atmospheres) to drive the Secondly, the chalcogels did not energy The real trouble, thougwh, is the from the fertilisers, as well as the plants, are reaction. This one process uses nearly lose their activity over time, a highly rate of the process. At just about sun." derived from energy from the sun. 2% of the entire global energy supply. desirable property when designing supply." a thousand times slower than DOI: abs/10.1021/ja512491v

Resveratrol: hope or hype? Resveratrol is a protective compound produced by Paradox”: how French people have low incidence of plants when they are under stress. It is mostly found in cardiovascular diseases while consuming large amounts black grapes (and thus red wine) but it is also found in of saturated fats. Red wine, though, contains far lower foods such as blueberries, raspberries, dark chocolate concentrations of resveratrol than have been given to and peanuts. human volunteers in some small-scale clinical trials. Resveratrol is an antioxidant, a compound that And what should also not be neglected is that most of prevents the formation of free radicals in the body, the trials for the beneficial effects for resveratrol have which have been linked to cancer. Its potential health been tested mostly in animals, and the experimentation effects have made it the subject of a huge amount of in humans is limited. research in recent years, with many studies on cells and Unfortunately, resveratrol may not be as perfect as in animals showing promising findings. considered, since resveratrol supplements have been In vitro, it has been observed that it suppresses the found to cause pancreas abnormalities in fetuses when proliferation of tumour cells, by penetrating the cell and consumed by pregnant monkeys, in experimental trials. helps DNA repair from free-radical damage that may And also despite all these potential benefits, this does otherwise lead to a tumour. It has been found to inhibit not mean that drinking excess red wine can offer these the formation of inflammatory factors and reduce health effects. As the ancient Greeks said “pan metron cholesterol levels, suggesting it could have a role in ariston”, meaning all in moderation, we should not preventing heart disease. forget that red wine contains alcohol so can cause liver Found in grapes and other fruits, in vitro tests of resveratrol have These potential benefits have led some to suggest the disease and also increase the risk for heart disease. shown positive effects on cell health. Photo: Wikimedia Commons consumption of red wine may be behind the “French- NEFELI MARIA SKOUFU PAPOUTSAKI FELIX THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON 13.02.2015 15 Games [email protected] Games Editor Max Eggl & Calum Skene Next Gen Console: Your Table + Friends Sanchit Sharma on why you should jump on-board for XCOM

COM: The Board Game is interesting gaming experience on a fast-paced, fairly light, the tabletop. For example, one of Xco-operative board game the events is a crisis – this means about defending Earth from an alien that the Commander must draw the threat. For those of you that don’t top two crisis cards and choose one know board games, co-operative to happen. There is nearly never a board games are those where the good decision here, and inevitably players work together, against the the chosen crisis will make a big game – fitting, considering the impact on at least one player, which theme! The thing that really sets it is exactly how a decision in a game of apart from every other board game XCOM should be. on the market today is that it is The timed phase is great – you played with an app (which only one can pause for short periods of time player needs to have), which controls if you need to, not completing alien the enemy AI and several other tasks quickly enough will cost you mundane tasks such as tracking time on your own tasks, and the AI is income and teaching people how to actually quite strong. However, the play the game. resolution phase uses a push your Each of the four players takes on luck mechanic that, whilst it does a role: Commander, Central Officer, mimic the feel of the game, feels Squad Leader or Chief Scientist – if out of place in a co-operative game. there are fewer than four one or It’s quite possible to do everything Photo: mobile-zocker.de more people will have to double right in the timed phase and then up on roles. A game turn is split up lose the game due to bad luck in complaints about them. The most this is a much easier game than most into two phases, the timed and the the resolution phase, although the common are the alpha player other co-operative board games. resolution phase. During the timed reverse is, thankfully, much less syndrome (where one person tells Having played it three times, once phase, the accompanying app will likely. Overall though, the tech everyone else what to do), and the solo and twice with four players, I tell the Central Officer what is going and combat mechanics are well idea that the game often plays you, managed to beat both the easy and on in the world and the other players designed and the game proceeds very instead of the other way around medium difficulty levels. Compare must react, often forcing them to smoothly. (i.e. there is always an obvious this to Ghost Stories, where in the make difficult decisions in very The component quality is high decision to make). XCOM deals with first five or six times playing the short periods of time. During the (though, sadly, the miniatures both of these problems very well. game on easy we all died horribly. resolution phase, the players will see are unpainted and as such it can An alpha player cannot emerge in Finally, the big question is the app. the effects of their decisions – a lot be difficult to tell which soldiers the timed phase as there simply It’s never been done in a board game of the game happens here, but you are which), with thick tokens and isn’t the time to show other people before, so does it work? My response can’t recover from a bad timed phase well-made cards. There are three what information each player has, is a very confident yes – not only with a good resolution phase. different sizes of cards, which is "This is a though in the resolution phase the does it reduce the complexity of The game is very easy to pick up understandable as they each need to board game opportunity is still there. As for the the game significantly, but it has and understand, and it captures fit different roles, but would be very second problem, XCOM has always images and music in the background the feel of the XCOM video games annoying if you wanted to sleeve all about been a game of hard decisions. that add to the feel and tension of perfectly. The simple rules make the them. However, the game also has a making Sometimes a decision is obvious, the game. They put a bit too much decisions easy to understand, but the pretty bad insert and doesn’t really difficult but this is quite rare. This is a board faith into the app in my opinion, as choices themselves are often very come with enough bags for all the game all about making difficult it really would have been helpful to difficult. The designers hit the nail parts. decisions decisions very quickly, so this issue include an actual rulebook in the on the head with this, it not only Now, for those of you that have very doesn’t really manifest like it does in game and a few notes on how certain represents the video games very well played co-operative board games quickly." other co-operative board games. things are calculated. However, the but it also translates into a really before, you may have heard a few It should be noted, however, that decision to require this app was a sensible one. It’s made the game significantly better. Overall XCOM: TBG is a very well designed and produced game. It fits the look and feel of the video games very well, and constantly leaves the players on the edge of their seats. It has issues, but it’s such a big leap forward in co-operative board games that I’m going to struggle to find a reason to play any other in the near "I’m going future. to struggle If you’re interested in trying this game out, come meet up with to find a Tabletop Gaming Society! We do reason to everything tabletop, from Magic play any the Gathering, to board games, to roleplaying games. We meet for other in board games every Monday at 18:00 the near in Huxley 711c. You can also email future.” any of the committee for details. Photo: themittani.com Come say hello!

FELIX THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON 13.02.2015 17 Music [email protected] Music Editors Grace Rahman & Amna Askari Surrender to The War On Drugs Ayonija Sundararajan sings the praises of these unassuming rockers ollowing the release of their third studio album Lost in a FDream, Philadelphia’s The War on Drugs have experienced cathartic success. With Lost in a Dream being named the best alternative record of 2014 by iTunes, these guys have catapulted from having an indie cult fan base to well- deserved mainstream success. The band was formed as a collaborative project between the God of the twangy guitar and face of Pantene, Kurt Vile, and current frontman and lead songwriter, Adam Granduciel. The release of their first album, Wagonwheel Blues, saw Vile’s departure from the band to pursue his solo career. With Granduciel in charge, the band’s second album, Slave Ambient, experienced further critical acclaim and demonstrated to the audience, more deeply, the band’s signature hazy sound. Lost in a Dream however, is a world apart from these two records. Born from a period of deep If you like your frontmen pained and little bit greasy, Granduciel’s the one for you. Photo: Alison Toon depression and a whirlwind break up, The War on Drugs’ third album is a Anyone who deems the album boring highlighting the explosive success of month. piece of art that bears Granduciel’s or repetitive is frankly wrong. Yes, the band. Having been to their KOKO Up until now, former band heart and soul in every lyric. that’s right, your opinion is wrong, show last June, I can vouch for these member Kurt Vile has somewhat Lost in a Dream is utterly, the most and not giving this album a second guys being great live performers "Live overshadowed the band’s success, perfect road trip summer record; chance is self-sabotage. who intricately re-created every performers bringing Granduciel’s talent into whether it be through the baking Almost a year after the release riff, drum roll and harmonica blare question. Granduciel himself played heat in a dodgy convertible down of the album, The War on Drugs to perfection. Moreover, seamless who in The Violaters, adding to the Route 66 or the winding backstreets continue to tour with each show "Lost in a transitions between each song intricately pressure of breaking out from Vile’s of a derelict European village, this proving more popular than the last. dream is meant that at some points I found it re-created shadow. Yet following the release of psychedelic country-rock masterpiece Having experienced great success hard to believe that these guys were Lost in a Dream, it’s safe to say that will not disappoint. across their tour last year and their utterly, playing live. Their performance was every riff, these guys can stand tall and proud, There’s nothing boring about performance at KOKO receiving the most effortless. drum shoulder to (somewhat unkempt, the motorik rhythm of this record. excellent reviews, the band sought out perfect It was evident that they were roll and greasy haired) shoulder, not just Granduciel has a knack for layering to return to the UK. well rehearsed, but in no way did harmonica alongside Vile, but any great musician his songs with a hazy harmonica and One show at London’s O2 Academy road trip they come off as stiff. The radiant out there. blazing guitars, not to mention his Brixton proved insufficient; a sold summer venue served as the perfect host for blare to The War on Drugs play the O2 Springsteen-esque voice, so that it all out show meant the addition of a record." Granduciel’s band, and I can’t wait perfection" Academy Brixton on Tuesday 24th of blends into one; a texture-filled bliss. second date at the popular venue, for their upcoming gig at Brixton this February. Tickets are still available.

Gig of the week - Neneh Cherry Arriving just in time to catch the last two songs of Rosie Neneh’s classics were given an appropriate twist without Lowe’s all-female and surprisingly groove filled set, causing the traditionalist in me to cry heresy. quick progress was made elbowing through a sizable “Neneh Cherry is my spirit animal” sighed my but docile crowd of irritatingly trendy thirty-somethings. companion; mere hours, she later admitted, after While a listless Rosie helped roadies pack up, we desperately scrabbling for excuses to not attend. attempted (to no avail) to spot 6Music DJs in the crowd; Closing with ‘Buffalo Stance’, and joined onstage by a who, along with stay at home mothers and Shoreditch hilariously energetic girl pulled from the croud, Neneh’s metrosexuals, seemed like the target audience for this exhortations finally had an effect, and the previously event. half-hearted crowd bounced along to (let’s be honest) Any misgivings Neneh’s opening stark rendition the only song they’d come to hear. of ‘Across the Water’ may have instilled in me were Ben and Tom’s rework of the classic, while fitting for swiftly banished by the floor-shaking performance the occasion, bore little resemblence to the original, of Blank Project’s title track. While the the choice of and insistant flashing projections of the track’s name opener was dubious at best, one thing is clear - to do were needed to help the crowd to recognise the track’s this album justice, it has to be heard live, and ideally introduction. Through all of this, though, Neneh’s vocals with RocketNumberNine’s Ben and Tom Page in - clear as ever, cut through the mix unchanged, despite support. Thumping percussion and metallic synths were the years. She can do no wrong. Photo: i-D delivered with just the right amount of distortion, and CEM HURRELL 18 13.02.2015 THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON FELIX Music [email protected] Music Editors Grace Rahman & Amna Askari The Grammys - Kanye not Grace Rahman watched the Grammys so you don’t have to

f you were you too busy watching Kasabian make a confusing Iappearance at the last Sunday’s BAFTAs, here are our top 5 WTF moments of the 57th Grammy Awards. There were some great moments musically, like Rihanna, Kanye West and Paul McCartney’s first live performance of ‘FourFiveSeconds’, and some not so great (Ed Sheeran ruining ELO’s legendary ‘Mr Blue Sky’ anyone?). It’s hard to comment solely on the music and arguably this isn’t what the show’s about. Fashion bloggers bitched well into the night about Rihanna’s fucking weird dress and Madonna’s arse, so here’s a round up of the slightly more musically themed water-cooler moments. What’s a Beck?

Who took away the same number of Grammys as leader of the free world, Beyoncé? This guy. Looking like a withered Ed Sheeran, Beck walked off with Best Rock Album and (controversially) Album of the Year. You probably know his track ‘Loser’; the opening sounds a bit like the Breaking Bad theme and he moans the chorus: “Soy un perdedor/I’m a loser baby/So why don’t you kill me?” He’s released a ridiculous twelve studio albums since the 90s, collaborated with everyone from Pearl Jam to Pink and once released a record as sheet music only. Seriously. Despite sounding like a bit of mug, Don’t worry guys, they’re friends now. Photo: NARAS/Getty Images he looked pretty astonished to be up there, and said at an after party you finish but…” at all! Oh Kanye, Album to a few years previously, Bridesmaids and SNL regular Kristen that he had expected Beyoncé to win. how you’ve grown. Then just when probably doesn’t respect all the Wiig. Perhaps even weirder than Many expressed confusion on Twitter we thought he’d found his sense of genres. Anyway, dressed in a peach Wiig’s inclusion was the fact that her – who was he, where had he come humour after all the incidents of late suit that some likened to an orange dancing was totally on point. from and how he managed to triumph (Barack Obama calling him a jackass prison jumpsuit, he introduced the over Queen Bey, who dropped a and that Zane Lowe interview) Yeezy category by referencing the recent World forgives Sam Smith critically acclaimed visual album with ruins it all by mouthing off about shootings of unarmed black youths zero notice? The girl who didn’t know Beck at an after party. “If they want by police, saying, “Like books and Less than a month after Sam Smith who Paul McCartney was must have real artists to keep coming back, they black lives, albums still mater”. Go was ordered give writing credit to been totally flummoxed. Kanye also need to stop playing with us,” he said, Prince. Tom Petty for ‘Stay With Me’, due had opinions on the matter, but we’ll adding, “[Beck] should have given his to its striking similarities to ‘Won’t get to that. award to Beyoncé.” Yikes. Chill out Sia back down’ (seriously, have a listen) he bags the Grammy for Record of Oh, Kanye Prince knows what’s up God I love you, Sia, but everyone the Year. Record of the year in terms knows what you look like. Having of, record that must’ve been played It could have been 2009 all over Introducing Album of the Year was only started to perform facing away enough times this year to annoy even again. People had pointed out in the "Who the Purple One himself. He’s been from the audience relatively recently, Smith, but presumably not Petty, who rehearsals that Kimye were seated took away pretty quiet since those surprise pictures of her face do exist on the got an undisclosed but presumably right by the podium, but Kanye West the same London shows and being on New "God internet. We get it, it’s more of a sweet settled-out-of-court sum. became the most tweeted about star Girl, so this really was exciting. love you performance art thing, and she’s Reminiscent of 2011, aka the year on Sunday night (despite not winning number of It clearly wasn’t for him though, amazing, having written Beyoncé’s of Adele, a Brit took home the most anything) by hopping onstage as Beck Grammys and he mooched onstage looking Sia, but ‘Pretty Hurts’, Rihanna’s ‘Diamonds’ awards, including best song, best (who? – see above) waved his Album as unimpressed as we all probably everyone and providing the vocals on Flo pop vocal album and best new artist, of the Year trophy in poor Bey’s face. as leader should be at an awards ceremony with Rida’s ‘Wild Ones’ that make it beating the loveable Bastille. And of the free knows But then, oh how we collectively all the pomp and irrelevance to music what you slightly better than truly awful. She like Adele, he thanked the ex who sighed in relief as we realised, it world, as the Grammys. Any awarding body did her usual thing at the Grammys, inspired it all. was just him playing a little trick! Beyoncé?" that gives Best Metal Performance look like." bringing along tiny dancing muse Who needs a man when you’ve got He wasn’t going to go full “I’m-a let to a band it had given Best Comedy Maddie Ziegler and bizarrely, star of an arm full of Grammys? FELIX THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON 13.02.2015 19 Television [email protected] Television Editors Guila Gabrielli & John Park How Adventure Time saved Cartoon Network

TOM RIVLIN SECTION WRITER

t’s safe to say that Adventure Time (AT), the hit eleven-minute Icartoon about Jake the dog, Finn the human, and their crazy adventures, has been a huge success for its studio/host channel, Cartoon Network (CN). Now in its sixth season, the show has amassed a huge audience of children providing consistently high ratings, and succeeded in fostering a ‘cult favourite’ status among many adults. There’s not a nerdy shop around without AT kitsch of some kind, and college students worldwide have posters of it hanging in their rooms. In short, nerds, parents, students and stoners all love Adventure Time! Photo: Pendleton Ward/YouTube Photo: Rebecca Sugar/CN Photo: Patrick McHale/CN Photo: Natasha Allegri/YouTube In fact, it’s been more than just a success to the channel, it’s been Bravest Warriors Steven Universe Over the Garden Wall And Still More... a life saver. Before AT, CN was actually struggling a bit. It got so bad The first show to come from a former The first show CN itself picked Over the Garden Wall was a ten- For completeness, there are two more that a few years ago, in an attempt AT person, Bravest Warriors has up from an AT personality, Steven episode miniseries aired on CN last shows to mention here: Animation to compete with Nickelodeon nothing to do with CN, but an online- Universe is an eleven-minute year, created by former AT writer, Domination’s Bee and PuppyCat, and and the Disney Channel, they only studio/YouTube channel called animated series created in 2013 by creative director, and boring-name- CN’s Clarence, both from former AT started investing in live-action Animation Domination. Debuting in former AT writer Rebecca Sugar. haver Patrick McHale. It can best staff. But even then, this isn’t the programming! Most of it was rubbish, 2012, it’s is an animated short series (As far as I can tell, yes, this name of be described as a weird bastard mix whole story. CN has been very good but they were too scared to take risks (five minutes per episode) from Ward pure whimsy is really hers.) If you of the Brothers Grimm, L. Frank lately at finding new talent through on creating new animated content, himself, with a more sci-fi aesthetic, thought AT was charming, you are Baum, and Mark Twain, with sources development programmes of various which is often expensive to produce. and slightly older characters. It’s not prepared for the pure, undiluted like Walt Disney and even Dante sorts (Over the Garden Wall was based That is until AT came along. still got all of AT’s charm and charm Sugar pours into Steven thrown in for good measure. Simply on a short film McHale made in 2013 AT was the success they needed whimsy (mostly thanks to the heart- Universe. Steven himself is charming, put, this series was a masterwork. Its as part of CN’s shorts development to boost their confidence in their wrenchingly adorable Catbug), and his interactions with other characters miniseries format lent itself to being program). The fact that a lot of animation division, and it shows. AT has been met with critical acclaim. are charming, the aesthetics are all very tightly written, with a strong their new shows are from young, has blossomed into an animation Despite each episode’s brevity, there’s charming… you get the picture. beginning, middle and end, and it inspired creators is a testament to a ‘renaissance’ of sorts for the channel, a surprisingly complicated plot going But amazingly, alongside the needs to be watched about five times channel taking risks, and those risks and to a small extent the Western on beneath the surface, and I don’t charm is a surprisingly heartfelt to get everything out of it. It lingered paying off for the channel and the animation world in general. CN has know about you but I’m excited to see story about loss and the value of life in my mind for weeks afterwards, too. audience. So, jaded twentysomething done an excellent job of capitalising where it goes! and family, with wonderful morals Like with all fiction, it would be millennials, remember the ‘golden on the success of the show in the so simple that kids will absorb them nothing without great characters, age’ of CN studios cartoons in the late best way possible for everyone: by easily, and profound enough to still and maybe I was just projecting, 90s/early 00s, with stuff like Dexter’s recognising talent. mean something to cynical grown- but I loved the fusspot/complainer Laboratory, Samurai Jack, and The AT’s creator, Pendleton Ward (a ups like us. It also has a refreshingly Wirt and his younger brother, the Powerpuff Girls? Well, it’s back. name so whimsical its owner couldn’t feminist narrative, not despite its endlessly optimistic Greg, who both be anything but a children’s cartoon male protagonist, but because of became immediately likable as they creator), surprised many last year by him. Steven learns the value of good wandered through the Unknown. announcing he had already quit the female role models (or rather, he has Also, I won’t lie, I teared up a bit (ok, a show halfway through season five. an innate sense of this from the start) lot) at the end. The reason this was surprising is that through his guardians, the Crystal no one noticed! There was no obvious Gems, and hopefully he imparts some dip in quality after he left. And the of that insight to the kids at home. reason for that is that the show has amassed not just a huge audience, but a large talent pool. The show isn’t just one man; it’s built on the work of incredibly talented animators, storyboard artists, writers, directors, and more. The executives at CN must have realised this, because they’ve greenlit three shows by creators whose main credit is AT. Here’s a guide to some of them.

Photo: Cartoon Network Photo: Pendleton Ward/ YouTube Photo: Rebecca Sugar/CN Photo: Patrick McHale/CN Photo: Skylar Page/CN 20 13.02.2015 THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON FELIX Film [email protected] Film Editors Ellen Mathieson, John Park and Jack Steadman Where is the love? Space oddity rapid editing that even the scenes that should have been remotely enjoyable turn into a string of incomprehensible, mind-numbing shots. Not helping in the slightest is the convoluted plot that fails to develop a single character right. Jupiter Jones (Mila Kunis) is an ordinary cleaner living in America who is nonetheless destined for great things. People who clearly know a thing or two start calling her “your majesty” and bees start to randomly swarming around her, because bees recognise an individual of royalty. Yes, really. She gets tossed into a petty family squabble between three siblings taking place in space. She Photo: Andy & :Lana Wachowski/ is to play an important role in a Photo: Ira Sachs,/Sony Pictures Classics Warner Bros. Pictures plot of schemes and betrayals that do not make any sense, and none JOHN PARK George is fired from his teaching everything grounded in that you JOHN PARK of the potential villains (Eddie SECTION EDITOR job at a conservative school, after the will not be seeing any grand, showy SECTION EDITOR Redmayne and Douglas Booth, both institution decides that it would not performances here. overplaying their campy tone, and be acceptable to have a married gay But it is in the quiet, small, tender Tuppence Middleton) really rises teacher teaching their students, and moments that the outstanding to the potential to become anyone LOVE IS STRANGE this leads to financial difficulties for cast elevates the film to excellence. JUPITER ASCENDING particularly memorable, phasing in Director: Ira Sachs the couple. Vacating their home is A particularly touching moment Director: Andy Wachowski, and out then suddenly never to be Screenplay: Ira Sachs, the least of their worries, as Ben and involves the brief reunion of the Lana Wachowski heard from and seen again later. Mauricio Zacharias George find themselves having to live main pair, having not been together Screenplay: Andy Wachowski, Even worse is how Jupiter Jones Cast: John Lithgow, Alfred apart in separate housing. Ben goes for too long. The film also stays away Lana Wachowski and Caine (Channing Tatum), a Molina to live with his nephew Elliot (Darren `from getting overly political and Cast: Channing Tatum, Mila genetically engineered ex-hunter, E. Burrows), whereas their kind gay preachy in tone – although there Kunis connect on a romantic level. Jupiter police officer friends (Cheyenne is plenty of space in the script for has no shame in quite literally Jackson and Manny Perez) offer up a it to do so. For instance, the firing throwing herself onto Caine, whilst room for George. of George for his personal life is a the audience can only cringe at the It is not the most ideal situation plot strand that could have been hearing of the Wachowskis’ poor love story that tells things but they both have to make do. overextended, but a simple voiceover scripting. from the point of view of an Ben is unwittingly thrown into the of George reading a letter of thanks he Wachowski siblings have The characterisations of the leads A elderly couple is quite a rare middle of Elliot’s family drama, one and apology to the school’s parents sure had their ups and downs remain baffling and unclear, and half occurrence, and something told in that involves his nephew’s wife Kate sums everything up nicely without Tin terms of the films that the time Jupiter is too busy falling relation to an elderly homosexual (Marisa Tomei) and their teenage any unnecessary tears and drama. have and have not connected with off buildings and other high places couple is rarer still. We start our son Joey (Charlie Tahan). George too, The ending however comes as a bit audiences worldwide. The Matrix to be contributing in any way to the journey with Ben (John Lithgow) struggles with living under the same of a shock. For a film that maintained franchise was something that made plot. Caine is of course there to save and George (Alfred Molina) getting roof with the two young men, who a slow, steady pace throughout its them an internationally recognised her, pretty much all the time, often married in New York City. They have are very socially active, having loud running time, there is an unexpected surname, although the films that miraculously finding out exactly been together for decades now, but parties and gatherings almost every time jump in which a lot seems to have followed since have not been where she is. only now are they legally allowed to night. But even in the midst of all have happened. There are important able to replicate the success their When moving forward with the have their union recognised by the this, Love is Strange refuses to venture questions that are never answered, iconic sci-fi trilogy brought them. film slowly, the visuals are easier state. It is a joyous occasion that calls into the more dramatic territory. and the final few minutes are guilty Their credibility’s downward spiral to take in and marvel at. The for friends and family to gather for Things just happen, quietly and of taking some easy, ‘cheat’ routes to continues with Jupiter Ascending, various spaceships and planets we the celebration. But even this happy calmly, just like how every day passes get a fast, neat ending. Regardless, a a preposterous, tiresome space are introduced to, are impeccably state does not last long, as life has a for the rest of us, there is nothing relatively weak final act should not opera that plays very little to the designed, the residents stemming funny way of balancing everything seemingly extraordinary for Ben interfere with enjoying the rest of the filmmakers’ strengths and instead from all sorts of weird and wonderful out. and George. Director Ira Sachs keeps beautifully structured narrative. turns into a chaotic, jumbled mess of species living in them too, are also a movie that is currently not making colourfully decorated from head a whole load of money across the to toe. The film however cannot globe. resist the temptation to just blow With a $176 million production everything up the first chance it gets, budget (including the nine months forgetting to focus on everything else of post-production the film went that is important to make a coherent through, pushing its release date film. back by almost a year), it is easy to see where all that money went. The endless supply of flashy computer graphics portraying space warfare are of course supposed to be the main selling point of the film, promising plenty of action appealing to a wide demographic of viewers. Sadly with Jupiter Ascending, there is such a senseless bombardment of laser Photo: Andy & Lana Wachowski/ Photo: Ira Sachs/Sony Pictures Classics beams, missiles, explosions and Warner Bros. Pictures FELIX THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON 13.02.2015 21 Welfare [email protected] Welfare Editors Diba Esbati & Chanon Wongsatayanont

Mental health Mental illnesses, visualised helplines Chanon Wongsatayanont recommends relatable comics online and resources If you are concerned about ne of the most enduring issues experience with depression in your own mental health, or about mental illnesses is ‘Adventures in Depression’ or that of a loved one, there are getting people to understand ‘Depression Part Two’. O people out there you can talk them. Sure, everyone has heard about If any of you have read hyperbole it from the media, but what they’re and a half before, you’d be familiar to who can give you advice, or associated with is far from accurate. with the weird and manic way her will be there to listen. Violence and mental illness are rarely brain works. She used this very same correlated, and it only appears that brain to give a very personal analysis Helplines way because of the news whenever of her own depression. exceptional cases occur. Funny at times, Brosh vividly If you are distressed and need In actual fact, mental illnesses only portrays the escalation of depression, someone to talk to : affect the way you look at the world, complete with the sense of Samaritans (24 hr helpline): how it appears and what you feel hopelessness, crippling exhaustion Phone: 08457 90 90 90 you should do. It might be dark and and self-hatred. But most uniquely, www.samaritans.org.uk meaningless, chaotic and fragile or she showed how an episode of so nonsensical that you can’t seem depression can be lifted by the most to fit in. It may come in episodes, unlikely situations and in the least Anxiety Help : crippling the sufferer like migraines, Hollywood-like kind of way. This Anxiety UK or it can tint everything they do and reminder can come as a relief to Clay’s depression comix goes for uncomfortably relatable feelings. Image: Phone: 08444 775 774 see, becoming integrated as a part of people who thought that depression Clay (Mon-Fri 09:30 - 17:30) their lives. should be beaten in the most As this is a matter of perspective, conclusive way possible. www.anxietyuk.org.uk mental illnesses are hard to understand, which makes it seem Depression comix No Panic scary and volatile. We, the welfare Phone: 0808 800 2222 section editors, have taken a stab In this series of webcomics, the (daily, 10:00 - 22:00) at explaining what mental illnesses author known only as Clay gives are like last term, but for something a more somber representation www.nopanic.org.uk so personal, perhaps art will speak of depression. Updated weekly, louder than words. depression comix deals with the daily Eating Disorders: So this week, here are some struggles of depression sufferers and Beat webcomics and illustrations of what those they care about. The style is Phone: 0845 634 1414 mental illnesses are like. They aren’t completely in black and white, drawn horror stories, more like heartfelt with heavy lines and a lot of shading. (Mon-Thurs, 13:30 - 16:30) attempts to capture the strange What strikes me the most about indescribable feelings that come with this webcomic is how many scenarios Addiction: mental illnesses. Sufferers would feel it presents. It doesn’t just go into Alcoholics Anonymous that they’re understood, and friends the head of sufferers, it also looks Phone: 0845 769 7555 of sufferers would better understand at the perspectives of their friends the people they’re supporting. and partners across a wide range of (24 hour helpline) relationships, often being awfully www.alcoholics-anonymous. Hyperbole and a Half frank about how they feel. org.uk The honesty makes some of the Anxiety is one of Toby Allen’s ‘Real Monsters’, its clock is always running Starting off light with perhaps the scenarios hit hard, especially when out of time. Image: Toby Allen Narcotics Anonymous most popular comic on depression, it comes to how depression hurts Allie Brosh managed to turn those you love more than it hurts so sufferers and their friends can be community is valuable so the Phone: 0300 999 1212 her unique humour on her own you. These can be cautionary tales more aware in the future. sufferers can feel some company www.ukna.org through the isolating experience. Better, drawn College Resources Real Monsters Student Counselling Service The name of this series of comics comes from the phrase “sometimes This isn’t a comic but it’s so Phone: 020 7594 9637 things can be said better when they’re interesting I have to include it to e-mail: [email protected] drawn”. This is a collection of comics the list. The artist, Toby Allen, by various artists who suffer from imagined mental illnesses to be Imperial College Health long-term mental and physical caused by different types of mythical Centre illnesses, including anxiety, obsessive- spirits.They would lurk around, compulsive disorder (OCD), eating find a victim and then prey on their Telephone: 020 7584 6301 disorder and even post-traumatic insecurities, feeding off those terrible e-mail: [email protected] stress disorder (PTSD). feelings. The best thing about this collection Their designs reflect what these You can also go to your is just the sheer variety from so mental illnesses mean to the artist, academic or personal tutor many perspectives. Some have like how social anxiety monster hides positive outlooks and effective behind an immense shell. regarding pastoral issues, coping mechanisms, others are more According to Allen, “The artwork especially if you think your negative. is not at all intended to make light mental health might be It brings home the fact that there of these conditions but instead is affecting your academic are a whole lot of people out there intended to give these intangible performance. suffering from mental illnesses mental illnesses some substance and Marvel at Brosh’s manic insights and MS Paint skills in Hyperbole and a and that people cope with them make them appear more managable Half. Image: Allie Brosh in different ways. This sense of as physical entities.”

friday 13 February

ynold re s cocktail club Every Friday from 17:30

Every Friday we will valentine’s Day be transforming Reynolds into a cocktail vs lounge with a chilled Friday the 13th atmosphere, relaxed music and a new venue PARTY layout. Come on down and let our newly trained mixologists whip you up some classic cocktails, plus Friday 13 February our very own creations 20:00 - 02:00 and specialities! in all union bars imperialcollegeunion.org/reynolds coming up!

Date Event Time Location Valentine’s Day vs Friday 13 Friday the 13th 20:00 - 02:00 FiveSixEight & Metric PARTY Friday 13 Reynolds Cocktail Club 17:30 - 00:00 Reynolds Every Tuesday Super Quiz 20:00 - 22:00 FiveSixEight Every Tuesday Reynolds Film Club 19:00 - 22:00 Reynolds Every Wednesday CSP Wednesday 19:00 - 01:00 FiveSixEight & Metric Every Wednesday Sports Night 19:00 - 00:00 Reynolds imperialcollegeunion.org/whats-on

£5 ENTRY KONNECT London ICAPRTY.CO.UK

FELIX THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON 13.02.2015 27 Arts [email protected] Arts Editors Fred Fyles & Kamil McClelland Editorial: The Little Light – a family affair Pioneers Issue FRED FYLES Max Falkenberg visits the new Orange Tree Theatre show KAMIL McCLELLAND SECTION EDITORS here’s something very familiar about watching siblings argue. What does it mean to be a pioneer? TWhether you’re brother or To become the first person to sister, older or younger, at some point explore a new area, to be alone, in your relationship a certain degree searching through uncharted of sibling rivalry seems inevitable. So, territory. In the arts world there is for a change, it was rather refreshing no shortage of pioneers; from those to see Little Light open on what felt who trial new artistic techniques, to like a reasonably normal concept: two those who push the boundaries of sisters, seeing each other once a year music, pretty much every great work to tell little bits about their little lives, of art redefines the art form, making and occasionally losing it. the artist a pioneer of the future. That doesn’t mean Little Light In this issue of Felix Arts we will started as a particularly exciting play. be looking at pioneers, from the Set on the seaside away from the small to the great. We start off with peering eyes of neighbours, Alison Max’s visit to Orange Tree Theatre and her husband Teddy live in a to see Alison Birch’s play Little Light, somewhat muted, dysfunctional state. a simmering examination of family An argument about Teddy having tensions and resentment; Max then ripped out the stairs to replace them takes us through a guide to some with a ladder dominates the first few of London’s greatest small venues, minutes of the play. There is a clear, which are constantly putting on loving relationship on show, but some of the most experimental something’s missing in their lives. pieces of art. Teddy recalls the conversations he’s We then take a trip back in time, had with Alison, their trip to Venice, as Jingjie heads to the Barbican and the travesty of Teddy not having Centre to check out 6 Characters cooked the lamb for lunch. Alison in Search of an Author, a piece of insists that he’s making most of it up; metatheatre originating from the she’s controlling and particular, but 1920s by pioneer Luigi Pirandello. otherwise unremarkable. Joshua then visits the Arcola The auditorium is intimate and Theatre, where he is impressed quiet. Set in the round, it feels very by Singing Stones, a theatrical much like the dining room the play exploration of the place women had is set in, but there is a distinctly in the Arab Spring. unsettling feeling going around. It’s Emiel, our resident opera buff, all a bit slow to get going, and while then takes us on a guide through the that can sometimes be used to a nuances of the ENO’s production of show’s advantage, it does feel a little The Mastersingers of Nuremberg, and too dragged out on this occasion. Lorna Brown as Alison in Little Light at The Orange Tree Theatre. Photo: Richard Davenport along the way explores the legacy With the entry of Clarissa, Alison’s of Richard Wagner, whose work sister, the play seems to find some of handling family conflict. Alison’s refreshingly normal. The audience pushed opera to the limit, both energy. Played by Yolanda Kettle, furious, and Simon is clearly unaware both empathise and understand his thematically and physically. there’s a certain charisma in her of the unspoken traditions of this situation within the play, and in The original pioneers of performance which draws the yearly meeting. As the play develops, many cases Simon’s observations of photography are celebrated in the audience in. Pregnant, and covered his relationship with his pregnant Alison and Teddy are shared by the Science Museum’s exhibition Drawn in mud from running through the wife and Alison’s need for control audience. by the Light. A collaboration with rain, Clarissa’s arrival sparks Alison build into a state of extreme tension. The overall result is impressive, the Royal Photographic Society, into life. Although the casting Although little happens for the first but as a whole the show certainly the exhibition certainly impressed leaves their relationship a little three quarters of the play, the power falls down in places. Its slow start Jingjie when she visited. unclear, their initial discussion has behind the language and the emotion and Alison’s overly monotonous From one obsession with another, all the hallmarks of a frayed sibling grows spectacularly. What felt a little behaviour can be tedious. But in the we then head back to the Barbican, relationship. Anger at having arrived dull to start now leaves you teetering context of the madness that unfolds, whose latest exhibition Magnificent early and furious that Clarissa has on a cliff’s edge. our focus is well held by the tension Obsessions looks at the personal brought her uninvited boyfriend, With sharp, biting dialogue and built throughout. collection of artists such as Andy Alison’s behaviour becomes epic, poetic monologues, the lack As a complete performance, Warhol and Damien Hirst, allowing increasingly irrational. With an of understanding on the part of the Birch can be proud of her script us an insight into their working insistence on tradition and complete "Birch’s audience seems trivial. We want to transmission onto stage; perfectly processes. We finish off with the control over her husband and sister, mastery of know more, we want to hear more but suited to the round and an interesting Photographers’ Gallery, where their the play finally gives us a clue as to most of all, we want a release of the insight into the vision of artistic two new exhibitions look at the what’s going on: emotion is tension. Birch’s mastery of emotion is director Paul Miller, Little Light is an early pioneers of photojournalism “I wanted to ask you if this year spectacular spectacular and I can only praise the "Little emotionally tense and well thought who documented human rights could be different.” and I praise depths of the characters she offers us. Light is an out journey. Examining the nature abuses, and the work of Charlotte Although it was the first play Alison the depths Yolanda Kettle and Paul Hickey as of family and the pain of losing Dumas, whose photos of prairie Birch wrote, this is her fourth major Clarissa and Simon stand out against emotionally someone dear to you, this show horses are surprisingly moving. production. With its clear emphasis of the the performances of Lorna Brown as tense provokes thought and even in its So that concludes another on family and tradition, Birch places characters Alison and Paul Rattray as Teddy. and well sadness, leaves an audience satisfied week from Felix Arts, where we are a distinct importance on secrets. she offers What feels muted and unpleasant in thought out at the end. always trying to tread new ground, Simon, Clarissa’s boyfriend arrives, Alison never seems to lift and by the bringing a touch of creativity onto many years her senior but with a us." end, her actions don’t particularly journey." Little Light is on until the 7th March. campus. If you want to join us in this degree of denial about the difficulties interest us. Simon in contrast is Tickets from £10 quest, feel free to drop us a line! 28 13.02.2015 THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON FELIX Arts [email protected] Arts Editors Fred Fyles & Kamil McClelland London’s best small theatres - Part II Max Falkenburg returns for the second part of his theatre guide Battersea Arts Centre

There’s something wrong with the so many other venues could only Next: Missing, by the Gecko Company Battersea Arts Centre. Although dream of. the management would have you The BAC’s direction and creative 4th - 21st March believe its decrepit shell is from edge is at the forefront of British a beautiful Grade II listed former theatre. Under the leadership of Although it’s not really my sort of town hall, its insides leave a lot to David Jubb, the theatre emphasises thing, the Gecko company are the be desired. the spirit of radicalism and has people to see for physical dance However, what it lacks in a supported a number of key theatre. A journey into the depths permanent purpose built modern contemporary artists in recent years, of the human psyche, Missing will stage, is made up for by the making it where to go to for the best likely be just as nuts as what you’d incredible versatility of the spaces in experimental theatre. usually expect from the BAC. Battersea Arts Centre, Battersea Photo: Ewan Munro

The Orange Tree

The Orange Tree’s auditorium is set else. Next: Play Mas in the round. Although some shows With Paul Miller as the new artistic suffer as a result, the intimacy of a set director, 2015 will likely see a change in 11th March - 11th April surrounded by the audience can do focus after 42 years with Sam Walters at wonders for a show. With no audience the helm. Having worked on numerous Winning best play at the Royal Court member more than a few metres productions at renowned theatres, in 1974, this is the first major revival from the action, the subtlety and tone Miller’s tenure at Sheffield’sCrucible of Mustapha Matura’s Play Mas. Set of the actor’s performances can have saw widespread critical acclaim which in the Port of Spain in the 1950’s, nuances often invisible. Is that always will likely continue at Orange Tree, Matura’s wickedly funny script and a good thing? Probably not, but it’s a heightening its reputation to the very sharp, entertaining dialogue make Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond Photo: Colin Bell perspective you won’t see everywhere top of the London theatre scene. this my must-see show for March.

The Park Theatre

As one of London’s newest theatres, major players in the industry, Park is in Next: The Glass Protégé Park Theatre opened its doors to a unique position: It is highly regarded widespread critical acclaim in May in the theatre community and many 14th April - 9th May 2013, and since then has gone from talk of it as being one of the best new strength to strength. Built from theatres in London, but very few people Fresh from a 6 week run in Chicago, the shell of an old office block, have actually had a chance to get to the show explores sexuality in 1949 the theatre’s two purpose-built know it. It’s new enough to be exciting Hollywood. Suppressed by taboos, spaces make Park one of the most but not so old that you already know actor Patrick Glass embarks on a welcoming and versatile venues in what you’re getting. Take it from me, scandalous affair which threatens his North London. Park Theatre is certain to be one to career. I warn you, there’ll be an awful With the backing of a number of watch over the next few years. lot of people getting naked in this show. The interior of Park Theatre, Finsbury Photo: Park Theatre

The Tricycle Theatre

The Tricycle Theatre is one of those With all the character of a top of the What to see next: Anything! venues that even non-theatre types range circus and a regular audience to hear about. Founded in the 1980’s on match, a spectacular red frame built Seriously, if you really have Kilburn High Road, and branding itself from scaffolding forms the core of the nothing particular in mind, as a local venue with an international seating area. Under Artistic Director the Tricycle will almost always vision, the Tricycle is something of an Indhu Rubasingham, the Tricycle has impress, regardless of the show. oddity. built a reputation for its collaborative They have a number of pieces From the outside, the bar and work nationally and internationally. coming up over the next few lounge have all the characteristics Presenting six main productions a year months; for anyone interested, I that you’d usually find in your run of with impeccable reviews across the would recommend heading over the mill Odeon. But the true surprise board, the Tricycle might not take itself to their website and checking out The Tricycle Theatre, Kilburn Photo: Tricycle Theatre is hidden away in the auditorium. too seriously but the critics certainly do. what catches your fancy. FELIX THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON 13.02.2015 29 Arts [email protected] Arts Editors Fred Fyles & Kamil McClelland Some metatheatre most remarkable Jingjie Cheng finds this 1920s play as relevant as ever

espite reading the synopsis actors learning their roles in order towards their inevitable tragic beforehand, I was entirely to stage it themselves. Disputes soon ends. The scenes are appropriately Dunprepared for Six Characters arise as the actors re-enact their accompanied by eerie, bone-chilling in Search of a Story, an intense piece of story with comical exaggeration, music that sets the surreal feel of the metatheatre that turns all convention inadvertently trivialising the raw whole play. on its head. Written in 1921 by Luigi guilt and shame of the characters as Originally written in Italian, this Pirandello and first performed in the father unwittingly makes love to production was in French with the same year to mixed reviews, I can his stepdaughter. English subtitles. The cast delivers an only imagine how startling it must But how do the characters electrifying performance, and there have been for audiences then, given themselves feel genuine emotion, if is clever use of the stage and sets. A how radical it still is. they were birthed from an author’s makeshift stage is wheeled on and we Right from the beginning, it is imagination? Fiction and reality observe the very process of adapting clear that we are watching a play here is fluid, just as how time can ‘reality’ for stage – the physical about plays. A costume lady works stall and replay, the passions buried representation of the metatheatre it away at her sewing machine while a and resurfaced again and again. The is. scenic painter paints the set. Actors characters insist that their suffering Shadows are used to great effect, walk around the stage rehearsing is real, and any attempt to replicate it representing the almost mythical lines and the director storms in, would be mockery. But is that not all character of Madam Pace, who forced his instructions brisk. They are of theatre – dramatic representations the stepdaughter into prostitution, rehearsing for a Pirandello play and of real life? Or is it the other way as well as the burden of the tragedy there is an absurdist touch to the way round, as Shakespeare writes – all the on each forlorn character at the end the actors are made to repeatedly world’s a stage, and all the men and of the play. A section of the stage juts rehearse a particularly inane scene. women merely players? out into the audience, and it is here Beneath the playful, self-deprecating The director, who was able to so that the director sits as he watches the humour, however (“We are reduced precisely control the piece he was characters take their story into their to staging Pirandello!”), there is a originally staging, realises that own hands further upstage, joining serious question about the point of he is rapidly losing control over the audience as a spectator himself. theatre and how far removed it is the six characters and their story. Director Emmanuel Demarcy- from reality. His attempts to regain control are Mota’s production is remarkably This idea is dramatically expanded thwarted by their passions which take faithful to the text, but at the same upon the entrance of a group of increasingly free rein as the story time it takes advantage of modern six characters who claim they have progresses. staging techniques that make the been abandoned by their author There is also a question of experience an immersive one. No and are now seeking an alternative determinism here; if the characters’ doubt the story is bizarre, yet the author to finish their story. Initially stories are unfinished, how do they questions it raises are as relevant to unwelcoming, the director is know what exactly should happen theatre today as they ever were. increasingly drawn into their tragedy next? Have their fates been sealed as they recount a tale of incest and from the start? The director and Six Characters in Search of an Author guilt. He agrees to help them finish Théâtre de la Ville – Paris, Six Characters in Search of an Author. Photo: actors can only look on in horror as was on at the Barbican Centre until 7th their story, but insists on his own JL Fernandez the characters march unstoppable February Singing Stones – the Women’s Spring

JOSHUA JACOB the writer and director of this first brutality that the protesters were inequality of power between men ARTS WRITER staging of the play – has found a way. subjected to, the repugnant designs and women, but also the inequality The audience’s apathy is of dictators, the victimisation of between women in the Western undermined throughout the show. children in war, and how the women and Arab worlds. The play doesn’t he Singing Stones is a new At the start of the play Alia Alzougbi, in the Arab Spring dealt with these aggressively argue a political point, play that explores the role of who reminds me of a lonely child, issues. but instead lucidly shows us the Twomen in the Arab Spring. On isolated but for the phantoms of The acting was sometimes plight of women and children in the the stage, as the audience are finding her imagination, verbalises her unconvincing, but otherwise Arab Spring, and in its penultimate their seats, a young woman is sitting disillusionment with her country’s fulfilled its function, and at points scene conscientiously dissects before a backdrop of rubble and ruling class through puppetry. She Alia Alzougbi was exceptional. The the difficulties of respectfully broken furniture, on an otherwise engages the audience with humour, simplicity of the set worked well, as communicating this bloody conflict bare stage. She is smiling contentedly but underlying her jokes there is a it didn’t distract the audience, while on the stage. whilst playing with some scraps of desperate young lady vying for our the size of the theatre allowed for an "The play cloth, and needle and thread. How attention and trying to find a voice. "The script intimate viewing experience. lucidly The Singing Stones is being performed can I begin to understand this image The play offers anecdotes of the is infused The script is infused with powerful at the Arcola Theatre until the 28th of in front of me, and the world it’s Arab Spring in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya imagery and mesmerising poetry, shows us the February. associated with: the world of Alia and Syria, as well as Camberwell with which leaves no question of the plight of Also, the Theatre is working towards Alzougbi, of countless children, with in South London. In every scene powerful playwright’s artistic understanding women and being the first carbon neutral theatre countless mothers and fathers, a the women are railing against the imagery and of the play’s deeply political subject. in the world. So when you see the world of revolution and conflict. A denial of their freedom of speech Feminist issues are intrinsic to the children in production and find your conscience distant land to which I am a voyeur, and their incapacity to make change enthralling play, but do not distract from the the Arab being challenged, at least you won’t need following it’s ebb and flow through in the Arab world. The words of poetry." stories themselves. It seems that the Spring." to worry so much about how far the polar international news. Kay Adshead – the characters on stage describe the author is challenging not only the ice caps have receded in the process. 30 13.02.2015 THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON FELIX Arts [email protected] Arts Editors Fred Fyles & Kamil McClelland The Mastersingers of Nuremburg – spectacular in every way Emiel de Lange examines whether the ENO can grapple with Wagner’s masterpiece

Nicky Spence as David and Andrew Shore as Sixtus Beckmesser in Wagner’s The Mastersingers of Nuremberg at the London Coliseum. Photo: Tristram Kenton

yperbole has never been Briefly sketched, our comic story Luckily, the benevolent cobbler Hans illustrating and commenting on the rapture or anxiety, depending on the my enemy, and I won’t shy concerns a wandering knight, Sachs, also a mastersinger, recognises various musical philosophies of the stage action. On top of all this, The Hfrom it now; Wagner’s The Walther, who must win a song the love between Eva and Walther characters. It is musically innovative Mastersingers is surprisingly hilarious! Mastersingers of Nuremberg is one of contest in order to marry the lovely and is willing to help them succeed. in the manner expected of Wagner: The plot is full of antitheses. the pinnacles of Western art. But Eva. Eva’s father is a member of Against this backdrop of medieval a continuous unending texture of The rigid traditionalism of the works of such scope and breadth of the Mastersingers Guild (a true Nuremberg, with its artistic guilds, motifs bound together with the most Mastersinger’s Guild is at odds vision are notoriously difficult, and historical guild), and has initiated Wagner spins a masterful web of expressive harmony imaginable. with Walther’s free & spontaneous expensive, to perform. Opera houses the competition on condition that verse & music that explores the Yet, Wagner uses old devices that expression through song. Their must offer enlarged orchestras, vast the singer be judged according to value, purpose & social role of art. he dismissed in his writings and sophisticated and exclusive art crowds of singer-actors, numerous the rules of the guild. Walther is The masterstroke is the use of art to abandoned in his other work for their battles against the coarse music of sets, and the scores demand almost not a member of the guild and has discuss art and in doing so Wagner’s contrivance: rhymed verse, quintets, the illiterate, which has broad appeal superhuman abilities from the no knowledge of its strict rules and score is both daringly modern and arias – opera by numbers – and even among Nuremberg’s public. What principle cast. With this production, traditions. Furthermore, he is up firmly rooted in operatic tradition – a short ballet in the third act. The Wagner tells us and demonstrates the English National Opera has against the scheming town clerk as is the song performed by Walther resulting music is so expressive that it for us, through his mediator Hans created something that delivers all Beckmesser, who is desperate to win and written under Sachs’s instruction. can somehow encompass antithetical Sachs, is that art should take a middle this, and fully lives up to the mind- and who holds the role of ‘marker’ for The score cleverly performs the states simultaneously, or carry the ground between these oppositions. blowing depths of Wagner’s vision. the guild, although he lacks talent. dual function of simultaneously full and undivided force of love, It should speak directly to people FELIX THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON 13.02.2015 31 Arts [email protected] Arts Editors Fred Fyles & Kamil McClelland of any background, yet not lose fearing its nationalistic tone. It is its ability to explore nuanced and however, important to understand difficult topics with sophistication. that these words would have Art should be innovative and strive sounded very different in 19th to find new means of expression if it Century Germany than they do to is to stay relevant, but must honour us in a post-Nazi Europe. A more its cultural predecessors if it is to sympathetic interpretation of the be intelligible. The Mastersingers monologue might be suggested. As both espoused this philosophy and we have discussed, Wagner often embodied it with great success; writes on the importance of art as a within a year it was performed all communication between people of over Germany and became a symbol shared cultural & linguistic heritage. for the unification of the country. In He believed that German art could modern Britain, it is hard to imagine only provide all its riches to German how an opera – a form seen as elitist – people, who would share in a rich could have such relevance. Although set of cultural contexts necessary I doubt it will change this fact, the to fully understand it. This applies ENO’s new production should enjoy to any group of people, and while broad appeal, and handles the finer not entirely innocent, this view is points with tact. History has tainted certainly far less sinister than those The Mastersingers’ reputation, and circulated in the early 20th Century. presented problems for directors. In this ENO production, the director, Having been appropriated by the Richard Jones, has dealt with the issue Nazi party, Sachs’ final monologue intelligently and appropriately. As "The ENO has been dressed in rather sinister the opera closes, the Nurembergers has created clothes. After celebrating the value of hold up the faces of German cultural the guild’s traditions and the German heroes: composers, artists, writers, something cultural heritage, Sachs warns of filmmakers, actors and architects; that fully foreign influence: “What is German and celebrate their contributions to lives up to and true none would know, if it did human thought. not live in the honour of German Jones shows his intelligence and the mind- masters.” skill throughout. The production is blowing Throughout the 20th Century, slick, dynamic and frequently very depths of many directors, particularly in funny. The sets seem to depict some Wagner’s America, have decided to cut this sort of simplified reality, but retain scene or intervene in other ways, detail where it matters. The crowds vision."

Nicky Spence as David (left) and Andrew Shore as Beckmesser (right) in the Mastersingers of Nuremberg Photo: Alastair Muir/REX

are used brilliantly to depict in one which should serve to finally rule out moment a chaotic riot, and at the Beckmesser’s pretensions, is served other the solemn uniformity of the weak and cruel. In fact, due to the church – the chorus is excellent. translation to English the genius of Musically, Edward Gardner conducts this scene is missed entirely. a modern Mastersinger, shedding I do have to say that Shore plays the bombast and weight of previous the part with near-perfect comedic interpretations in favour of flexibility instincts and has the voice to and sensitivity. The orchestra has match. Hans Sachs is of course moments of utter brilliance, and the keystone in the opera, and, in only loses its composure when the one of the longest roles in operatic on-stage brass is added to the mix existence, he sees what others do not – a crucial mistake which I trust see and manoeuvres the story to its will be addressed in subsequent conclusion. Iain Paterson debuts performances. in this marathon and does so with All the cast is excellent but, as stunning confidence and humanity – is understandable in such a long he is sure to become one of the great performance, shows inconsistencies Wagner singers of his generation. "The here and there. Gwyn Hugh Jones I am sure that the name of Richard ENO’s new plays a passionate and pre-occupied Wagner has passed over your ears Walther. His love, Eva, is portrayed at some point or another. In any production by Rachel Nicholls with grace, but case, you will have felt his influence, should perhaps she lacks the spontaneity whether in film music or more enjoy that would really allow us to relate academic genres. If you are at all to her character. The antagonist, curious, this is the production to see. broad Beckmesser (Andrew Shore), was It is not only enjoyable and funny, appeal, and handled less well, although the blame but deals with Wagner’s difficult handles for this should lie with the director. themes head-on, with sophistication, the finer His humiliation in the second act and a no-nonsense approach. is so complete and absolute that his points with further scheming in the third seems The Mastersingers of Neurenberg is on Andrew Shore (Sixtus Beckmesser) and Gwyn Hughes Jones (Walter von Stolzing) in The tact." forced and incongruent. Wagner’s until the 10th March. Tickets available Mastersingers of Nuremberg Photo: Tristram Kenton for the Guardian great coup of world-play at the finale, online. 32 13.02.2015 THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON FELIX Arts [email protected] Arts Editors Fred Fyles & Kamil McClelland Seeing photography in a new light Jingjie Cheng examines how Drawn by Light reimagines photography

hotography exhibitions are often about particular Pmovements, themes, or individual photographers. Rarely do you find an exhibition as all- encompassing as this show of the best of the Royal Photographic Society’s (RPS) collection. Besides including instantly recognizable photos, such as Steve McCurry’s National Geographic magazine cover photo Afghan Girl, the exhibition is notable for its effort to present a macroscopic view of photographic history, drawing links across time, individuals and whole movements. The Society is in a unique position as both bystander and participant in the major photographic milestones of history, and this exhibition exploits both these roles ingeniously to create a fascinating and informative tribute to the art of photography. The show is divided into three sections, each of which reveals a different facet of photographic history. ‘Continuity and Change’ juxtaposes similar subject matter in photos from different time periods and photographers, creating a lively dialogue between works that transcends time and context. The streaker held by three policemen in ED Lacey’s photo, for example, and the naked children in James Jarche’s Limbs who are also running away from an officer, unite in a playful defiance of social decorum. Across history, there have been certain recurrent themes that Leicester Square, 1896, Paul Martin, The Royal Photographic Society Collection. Photo: National Media Museum, Bradford / SSPL photographers consistently return to, and this particular room highlights and photographers themselves exhibition also displays a collection the “personal visions” of individual these similarities very strikingly. that represent the ‘Optimism and of equipment significant to the photographers’ bodies of work. From the curvaceous bodies of Progress’ of the 1850s, a period when development of photography. Three Drawn by Light is impressively nudes across time to journalistic photographic techniques and the rare original Nièpce heliographs – comprehensive, with a diverse range photographs of uncannily similar role of photography in society was the first time someone attempted to of style and subject across time and compositions of spectators at a developing rapidly. ‘draw by light’ – are on display, along place. Pioneers of photography badminton match and bystanders at True to its role as a participant in with Henry Talbot’s camera lucida are displayed alongside recent a policeman’s funeral, photographs the history of photography, the RPS sketchbook and a portable camera of masterpieces, capturing an exquisite have captured the timelessness of also has a remarkable collection of the 1850s, among others. view of photography in its entirety. the human condition. Particularly photos of photographers themselves. In ‘Personal Vision’, the third and Drawing from the collection of such a delightful is the 1956 piece by In the 1856 piece Photographic Society final room of the exhibition, works historic organization, the exhibition Philippe Halsman. Inspired by the outing to Hampton Court, a cluster of by the same photographer are shown strikes a fine balance between being jump shots of comedians of the time, men in top hats are pictured in front side by side. Some of these have a informative and aesthetic. At the he got the Duke and Duchess of of a carriage, chatting and setting up distinct character and highlight same time, it presents its art in a Windsor to do one too – which they equipment on a patch of grass – a the similarities across works by the cohesive way that challenges any gamely did, while maintaining their candid but vivid capture of the spirit same photographer – for example, preconceived notions of individual air of composure and dignity! of the early RPS. Madame Yevonde’s the gentle, otherworldly landscapes photographic movements and The RPS, founded in 1853, is the "It presents self-portrait with a Vivex colour "The of Ansel Adams or the quirky and photographers that viewers may come world’s oldest surviving photographic its art in camera encompasses the concept of exhibition whimsical pictures of Richard Polak. in with. society and its early members consists this section of the exhibition – a focus Others are vastly different and show Well-organised and easy to of the most famous practitioners a cohesive on the drivers and technology that strikes a the diverse interests of individual navigate, the RPS collection is of the time such as Hugh Welch way that shaped the time. In the centre of the fine balance photographers. Roger Fenton, best definitely a fascinating and enjoyable Diamond and Roger Fenton. It held challenges room, there is a recreation of a section between known for his photos of the Crimean visit. its first open exhibition at The South of a photography exhibition as it War, also took remarkable still life Kensington Museum in 1858, which any would have looked in the 1850s, with being and landscape pictures. This room Drawn by Light: The Royal later became the Science Museum notions of photos densely arranged and with informative is thus an interesting companion to Photographic Society Collection is and Victoria and Albert Museum. individual subject matter ranging from busts at and the first room – one connects the running until 11th March in the Science The second room of the exhibition movements" the British Museum to landscapes. aesthetic." dots between subject matter while the Museum Media Space. Tickets are £8, is dedicated to the photographs Aside from photographs, the other invites the viewer to pick out £4.50 for students. FELIX THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON 13.02.2015 33 Arts [email protected] Arts Editors Fred Fyles & Kamil McClelland Artists’ most magnificent obsessions Fred Fyles is impressed by the Barbican’s display of unseen collections

Dr Lakra’s record covers collection. Magnificent Obsessions: The Artist As Collector. Barbican Art Gallery Photo: Peter MacDiarmind/Getty Images

eyrings. That was what I they work, and what influences Sugimoto’s collecting stemmed from that vague term defined by Susan we have a chance to revisit them. collected when I was younger. them. While we are used to an artist his dealership in folk art, which Sontag as “a vision of the world They are indeed powerful; with KEvery time someone I knew producing a ‘product’, allowing allowed him to explore Japanese in terms of style”. Andy Warhol’s slightly off proportions, and hyper- went abroad, I forced them to bring it to enter the public forum, by traditions during the 1980s and ‘90s. obsession with this side of American saturated colours, they leer out of me back a trinket attached to a presenting us with what they The collection of German minimalist culture is well documented, and the canvas like surreal grotesques keychain, until I had boxes and boxes surround themselves with, Barbican musician and artist Hanne Darboven here we are presented with a group of the American nightmare. From bursting with these gaudy accessories lets us know where they get their shows how what starts as a pastime of his exceptionally ugly cookie one painting a woman in white grins jam-packed above my wardrobe. Of inspiration from. For some artists the can spill over into an obsession; clocks jars, featuring leering clowns and manically out at us in a Lynchian course, being 8 there was no need links are apparent – Damien Hirst’s lie against toilets, paintings lean grotesque pigs, along with a myriad of fever dream, whilst another of a small for me to own a keyring, let alone collection consists of – surprise, on mannequins, and the weight of other, undeniably camp, characters. child could have been painted by hundreds, but this is what lies at the surprise – skulls, taxidermy, and hundreds of photographs strains the We can also see how Warhol’s ‘psychological cubist’ George Condo. heart of collecting: buying and then medical models, taken from his boards of her desk, made functionless obsession with products influenced Magnificent indeed. not using, accumulating and storing unimaginatively named ‘Murderme thanks to her hoarding. his work; from a vitrine of children’s Ultimately, Magnificent Obsessions ephemera whose sole purpose is to Collection’. For others, the effect While the Barbican always goes playthings we segue into a collection is indeed a success, allowing us a key bring enjoyment to the collector. it has on their work is less obvious. to great lengths to ensure that their of prints featuring toys. insight into the lives of illusive artists. I am sure I am not alone in my Edmund de Waal’s collection of exhibition space is appropriate While some collections are more While the concept could have been collecting neuroses; most people I netsuke, Japanese fasteners, may give for the contents, for Magnificent serious, such as minimalist Sol laborious, the Barbican have helped to know have a current collection of us a bit of family background, but Obsessions the design is of paramount LeWitt’s modernist photos by August keep it light by including all the cult something, and it is hard to find does little to help our understanding importance. These collections are Sander and Henri Cartier-Bresson, ephemera (a polite word for crap) that a single individual who didn’t at of his minimalist ceramics. Howard supposed to be seen in situ, and and Sugimoto’s collection of morbidly we may have in our own life, whilst some point in their life – normally Hodgkin goes so far as to claim that therefore the design team have tried beautiful anatomical drawings, the also providing examples of artists’ childhood – obsessively collect his collection of Indian art has no to make each space seem like a living best ones in the exhibition are those work that grew out of such context. something. The Barbican’s newest influence on his paintings; why room, or a study, placing carpets suffused with camp humour. Blake’s So often placing something in exhibition Magnificent Obsessions: include it then? or mirrors at random intervals range of random objects clearly play a museum is akin to confining it The Artist As Collector, shows us that What is fascinating about the throughout. For some rooms, the into his effervescent post-war collage to a mausoleum, but by trying to the collecting bug spares none of us, exhibition is how it highlights the design works beautifully, such work, which helped form the basis avoid endless rows of vitrines, the least of all creatives; from Hiroshi different approaches people can as Pae White’s vast trove of Vera of Pop Art, whilst Martin Wong’s Barbican manages to inject life into Sugimoto to Peter Blake, everyone have to collecting. Some focus on a Neumann textile designs; ranging meticulously arranged selection the exhibition. This is a celebration of has a secret collection at home, and certain type of object, such as Mexican from handkerchief to bedspread, they of Americana classics are positively the object acquired not found; of the indulging in this hobby can help tattoo artist Dr Lakra’s vast range of hang from wires, like washing in the brimming with wit and life. But no inner collector that manifestly resides us tap into our creative potential. garish record sleeves, while others’ wind, creating a colourful abstract collection compares to Jim Shaw, in all; of the inescapable clutter of Never have I felt so validated in my approaches are more scattershot; image. For others, however, the idea whose particular fixation is paintings everyday life. prepubescent fixation on keyrings. take Peter Blake’s collection of old falls a little flat, since the collection is obtained from thrift stores. When Asking artists to reveal to us what signs, natural oddities, and freakshow presented in such an artificial way. a collection was exhibited at the Magnificent Obsessions: The Artist As they fixate on in their personal dioramas. For some artists the art of Throughout the exhibition, there ICA back in 2000 their horrific Collector is on at the Barbican Centre lives allows us an insight into how collecting is a professional act; Hiroshi is a strong theme of kitsch camp, naïveté shocked critics, and now until 25th May. Tickets £12 34 13.02.2015 THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON FELIX Arts [email protected] Arts Editors Fred Fyles & Kamil McClelland Human Rights: the Sight and the Fury Fred Fyles looks at two contrasting exhibitions of photography

“Everything can be explained to the is quite possibly the most depressing anaesthetize”. In our media-saturated people, on the single condition that you world tour; starved Biafran orphans world it has become difficult for an really want them to understand” staring forlornly out at the lens; image to retain the power to shock, women marching in the Plaza de to stun. While it is imaginable that – Frantz Fanon, The Wretched of the Mayo in Argentina, highlighting their these images caused a furore when Earth plight as the mothers of ‘disappeared’ they were first published, revealing children; and Algerian bards, singing a hidden reality, globalisation has ombings. Famine. Conflict. As ballads against French colonialism in meant that rather than being placed images of these atrocities jump Tunisia during protests. out of view, such acts are instead Bout of me from black and white With Selma being released in thrust upon us. photos adorning the walls of The cinemas to critical acclaim, it This attitude is not helped by the Photographers’ Gallery, the words seems a ripe time to revisit the civil way the photographs are presented; of polemical anti-colonialist Frantz rights campaign, and photographs instead of presenting them Fanon ring in my mind. In his most of Martin Luther King by Charles chronologically, or geographically, famous work, The Wretched of the Moore and Bob Fitch help humanise we flit around, from one place to Earth, he advocates for those who are the legend, revealing the edges that another. Starting off in Vietnam, we colonised to use violence as a tool for were smoothed away in his journey might then head to Alabama in the political freedom. While Fanon sees to become an icon. Other photos ‘60s, then Algeria, then Morocco in conflict as a necessity, the exhibition allow us to starkly draw a link the ‘70s, and then back to Vietnam. Human Rights Human Wrongs shows between the present and the past, While I understand that this may that it seems to be an inevitability: a with Willie Nkosi’s photograph of have been a deliberate ploy to side effect of living on our fractured black protesters in Soweto during overwhelm us with the sheer volume planet. the late 1970s reminding us of recent of horror humanity can produce, Untitled, from the series Anima, 2012 Photo: Charlotte Taking the 1948 Universal scenes in Ferguson. The signs around the effect is actually that we become Dumas Declaration of Human Rights as a their necks read “Don’t shoot. We disorientated, and the narrative that starting point, The Photographers’ are marching. We are not fighting”, we have been building is fractured. drained by these harrowing Gallery explores the archive of the showing us that then, as now, black The exhibition succeeds where photographs, you can head down to Black Star Photography Agency, bodies are not safe from the force of it presents a view of the world that the Photographers’ Gallery’s other who are legendary for their an imperialist government. we are unfamiliar with; the power exhibition, which offers a welcome photojournalism. Picking a collection However, with many of these of great photography is that it can change of tone. Anima and the Wildest of photographs from numerous photos there is a sense of ‘been alter the way that we perceive what Prairies, the first UK solo exhibition conflicts of the last 60 years, the there, done that’. As Susan Sontag is happening around us, and this is by Dutch photographer Charlotte exhibition spans the globe, in what says: “Images transfix. Images clear in the photographs that explore Dumas, displays a collection of how women are treated within war. photographs of wild horses living in In one photo from Vietnam we see Nevada. Framed against a wide-open a group of white soldiers engaging Southern sky that stretches across with local women, who we presume the photograph, powerful horses to be prostitutes. The slack-jawed wander free, exemplifying the power grins plastered on the faces of the and might of the natural world. With Americans is sickening, and as we nary a human in sight, Dumas’ work gaze at them gazing at the women, it is an exploration of man vs. machine. is difficult to feel anything other than The natural might of the mountains sheer disgust. and the glamourous majesty of the In one photo, things are taken animals suggests that they have the further; as well as the photographs edge. we are told the captions written on But what is more impressive is the back; in this one an Angolan Dumas’ work Anima, a video of the woman stares out at the camera, horses used for military funerals in and the caption tells us that “she the USA falling asleep in their stables. makes propaganda for a black-white Framed like classical paintings, community”. While this view seems Dumas’ skill with light is apparent, somewhat optimistic, it is certainly a evoking the memory of the old novelty in an exhibition that seems to masters; observing these horses as be lacking in new ideas. they slowly drift into dreamland feels The lack of context for many of like a sort of transgression, as if we the photos is also an issue; unless are trespassing on private property. you have a generally good idea of It’s the kind of work that I could the innumerable conflicts since watch for an age: slow, deliberate, "The 1948, it can be difficult to tell what and beautiful. It also gives us a time exhibition is happening in the photograph. to reflect on the things I have seen However, some ideas are universal; upstairs in the Human Right Human shows in my favourite photograph of the "Dumas’ skill Wrongs exhibition. After the horrors violence exhibition, entitled Red China, a with light of the human world, it’s a welcome as an woman stares forlornly at a pair relief to be able to slip into a tranquil, of shoes, her tired eyes and worn is apparent, animal one. inevitability clothing contrasting against the and evokes of living on glamour of the Western-style the memory Human Rights Human Wrongs and our fractured accessories. It is a reminder that not of the old Charlotte Dumas: Anima and the planet" all conflicts involve bloodshed, and Wildest Prairies are both on at The Hilmar Pabel, Czechoslovakia Invasion, Prague, August 21 1968 Collection. not all injustice concerns violence. masters" Photographers’ Gallery until 6th April. Photo: The Black Star Collection Once you have been emotionally Free Admission 35 13.02.2015 THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON FELIX Travel [email protected] Travel Editor Yung Nam Cheah Kickstarting my life in Mexico City Aditya Narayanan discuss the arts and footballs in this dynamic capital as a new home

exico City glitters at night. unfolding over the area of a small Dots of yellow flow across city. The campus has a faded, 1970’s Mthe ground. Like a train aesthetic to it, but with open green of ants, they follow a path as if spaces and mazy walkways it retains preordained, in a robotic line with no an air of languid intellectualism. destination. I can feel the energy from Complex murals stretch across the my plane window. sides of buildings; a melange of Aztec Drugs. Violence. Human myths and scientific discoveries trafficking. The typical Western news blended so that neither appears cycle on most developing nations incongruous. influences the opinions of people If there is one form of artwork about Mexico more than most. India that could define Mexico City it is and China have oriental mysticism the murals. Broad splashes of colour and South America has the untamed draped across walls both inside and Amazon wilderness. Yet despite outside grandiose buildings, forming the centuries of Mayan and Aztec any manner of scenes from the culture interacting with European historical to the geographical to the colonists, press about Mexico is downright surreal. The main UNAM usually negative. Just weeks before campus in Ciudad Universitario is I fly out I hear news that the bodies one of the best examples, with the of 43 missing students have been main library exterior fully dedicated discovered in nearby Guerrero state, to a variety of artwork. in what looks like an orchestrated Tributes to Galileo and Copernicus The intimidating football stadium of Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico. Photo: Aditya Narayanan killing. I lose count of the amount are flanked by graphics of indigenous of friends and relatives trying to myths, while a diagram of an atom convince me not to visit here, or to is perched above a snapshot of a police guard with no authorised average North American university, cops; who are seen as complicit in book with a tour company, but I was revolutionary demonstration and entry. Developments in the case of few if any can say they host a perpetuating a broken, corrupt determined to go. other parts of the country’s history. the 43 students have gripped the professional football team. Not least system. It is also interesting to note It is freezing when I land. A stark One of the most striking murals nation in a state of palpable fury, one of the country’s most storied and that women comprise a significant contradiction to the burnt out, barren is a magnificent eagle rising over not least because this particular successful ones: the Pumas of UNAM. portion of the ultras (or fanaticos vistas associated portrayed in the two wrestling figures embedded in case exposed a sinister link between A 3D mural by Diego Rivera thrusts as they are termed here), and are Speedy Gonzalez cartoons. As my taxi the side of the Estadio Olimpico politicians and the cartels. Public out of the magnificent, stubborn often leading the chants with gusto – winds through the lamp lit streets I Universitario, a so called ‘3D mural’, spaces and small parks everywhere concrete bowl, its distinct indigenous something almost unseen in Europe. am surprised by how well maintained for the sculpture elements it brings to are occupied by tents, protesters influences only strengthening its It is a reminder that there are some and organised the roads are, and the the Mayan influenced architecture. camping out to put pressure on the imposing aura. It truly looks like lessons concerning discrimination smooth flow of traffic. My opening Likewise both the Palacio Nacional government for justice, and “43” is it belongs of the era of the original that can be learned from less meal is tacos al pastor, a local classic, and the Supreme Court are just daubed everywhere in graffiti. In Olympic games. developed nations. and the perfect antidote to a hungry a couple of publicly accessible conversation, most Mexicans express The walk to the stadium is abuzz The match finishes in a stomach. places whose interior corridors a strong distaste for the police, and with the onset of the Clausura. disappointing 1-1 draw, with Morning brings a trip to the campus are decorated with murals by such this disconnect is magnified at Vendors hawking food, drinks moments of quality conspicuous by of Mexico’s biggest university, luminaries as Diego Rivera, José football matches. and Pumas memorabilia. I spot their absence apart from a sublime Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Clemente Orozco and Arturo Garcia While possessing an 80000 capacity one cheekily selling items of Club assist for Pumas’ goal. Oddly, the feel Mexico, a sprawling mass of concrete Bustos. However, both are on under the stadium is not unusual for the America, the great rivals of Pumas of the match is almost exactly as I who play their games at the equally imagined from highlights of the 1970 iconic Azteca. Gun toting police in and 1986 football World Cups, aided full riot armour peer grimly through by the constant, concussive energy their sunglasses as we are repeatedly generated by the indefatigable Pumas checked for contraband. Even belts fans and The Rebels in particular. For are banned from the inside. an introduction to Latin American The resentment is tangible, the football, even a half full stadium safety checks pass without incident has been more exhilarating than I barring the ejection of those with fake imagined. tickets. No article about Mexico City would Although it seems that half the city be complete without mentioning is here, the two curvas at each end are the legendary Frida Kahlo, who empty apart from the visiting fans. along with her husband Diego I am positioned behind the ultras, Rivera put Mexican art into the the Rebels, in the Pebetero stand consciousness of the world. With her underneath where the Olympic flame fusion of indigenous art styles with was lit all those years ago. The Rebels contemporary European surrealism, are on their feet for 90 minutes, allied to longstanding socialist with intermittent bursts of silence activism on behalf of the native bookending a never ending chorus of Mexican cultures. chants, led with the accompaniment Her childhood house, the Casa Azul, of a drum and other instruments. is a monument to her life and work, The chants of the Pumas fans all achieved despite suffering polio are primarily support of their own at 6 and a serious traffic accident at team, with the occasional obsession 18 which left her in a wheelchair. It mocking of the opposition (or their is this defiance in the face of intense arch rivals Club América). Aggression difficulty that continues to inspire The brightly coloured Casa Azul, childhood home of the famous artist Frida Kahlo. Photo: Aditya Narayanan is only audible when insulting the Mexicans today. 36 13.02.2015 THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON FELIX Travel [email protected] Travel Editor Yung Nam Cheah The College board that is letting students cross borders

Kamil McClelland sat down with the new head of Exploration Board after their endorsement of his upcoming trip through Central Asia

ow many people knew there LC: This certainly was the case in the that the Board is not more widely was such a thing as the early years, where groups went off known about? HImperial Exploration Board? to make a map or survey the geology Apparently not that many, as I found or botany of the area. But I feel this LC: Although the College Reporter out when telling people that I had has evolved over the years and I normally has an article each year, received their endorsement for a would rather not send out groups past expeditions did not publicise cycling expedition myself and a few to do ‘simple science’ where it is not themselves enough. Although it is friends are planning this summer particularly of any research value. less of a problem now with everyone across Central Asia. And so, I decided Nowadays, we are more explicit about creating blogs online, people used to talk to the Chairman of the Board, encouraging personal development, to return from an expedition and, Could College Dr. Lorraine Craig, to find out more giving people the opportunity to do as opposed to writing up their about what the Board does and how something new and exploratory for experiences, immediately started others can get involved. them. to think about planning another. I feel it is enough of a challenge and Whilst this is quite a natural thing to Kamil McClelland: So Lorraine, a learning experience to get the teams do, it has meant that they have not could you tell me a bit about the to thoroughly plan an expedition, go always been available to pass on their history of the Board and why it off and do it, and then return safely knowledge as easily and have not formed. afterwards and write up a superb made the Board more widely known. pay for your next report. Lorraine Craig: The Board was KM: What is your background and established in 1955 under the KM: Why do you encourage the how did you come to be the Chair sponsorship of the College, the students to write up a report of the of the Board? Students’ Union and Old Students’ journey afterwards? Associations to consider proposals for LC: I am a geologist and have always expeditions submitted by members of LC: I think it is very important for the enjoyed the outdoors so soon after the College and to administer funds students who go on an expedition to gaining my PhD from Queen’s holiday? given to assist with the cost of those reflect on their experiences and you Belfast, I joined a research group at expeditions. really notice as you approach the end the University of Cambridge to go It was founded to encourage student of a trip that you start thinking about and work in the Arctic. At the time, development outside of the lecture what you have gained from it. women couldn’t go to the Antarctic theatre. During the ‘30s and war Leadership, teamwork, so I decided to go north instead and The 2013 expedition took seven Imperial students to the famous Yosemite National Park in Califonia, USA Photo: Flickr/ Dhilung Kirat years, there were a lot of expeditions organisation, time-management, was part of a small polar community, out of Oxford and Cambridge and tolerance and compatibility, self- working in Greenland, Svalbard and knowledge has helped you on starting from around 1953, the confidence, humility, responsibility Ellesmere Island. expeditions? University of London decided to for yourself and your team, safety, After this, I realised how much I had get in on the game, leading to the communication, project management benefitted from the help of others Oh absolutely! It gives you a unique Imperial Board being founded. and planning are just some of the and wanted in some way to support understanding of the landscape, why The 1957 Karakorum Expedition many skills that every expedition others to have a go at expeditions. I things are as they are, which helps in was in fact led by legendary British member has to apply. became Head of Research and Higher all aspects of a journey. mountaineer Eric Shipton, where It is also a matter of legacy and, Education at the Royal Geographical Geology I find also gives you very they surveyed some glaciers in the just as you have spoken to and learnt Society and, although this didn’t astute observation skills, which is Karakorum alongside climbing, from people who have gone on actually involve any research for me, invaluable in every aspect of planning although the final report was never similar expeditions to your own, it is I was still travelling a lot of the time. an expedition. submitted. "Established important to pass on your knowledge "An article Just before I came to Imperial, I There are also some great photos in 1955, [the and wisdom to future explorers. learnt that the previous Head of KM: Do you have a favourite in the archive of an expedition to It is all well and good for people each the Exploration Board, Prof. Bob expedition in the history of the Iceland in 1956 where at the start of fund was] from older years to go on expeditions year...past Schroter, in fact a close friend of board? the trip, they look like best friends but founded to but you need to help younger expeditions mine, was retiring from the role by the end are all looking in different encourage students, those in first and second and he felt that I would be his LC: I don’t think I could pull out one directions and seem considerably less student year, to develop their skills. did not natural successor. I then sat in on as my favourite as each expedition is chummy. That is how we all got where we are publicise a few meetings, the secretary Nigel special for the individual members development today and it is important to give back Wheatley taught me the job and the who go on them. KM: Do all expeditions have to outside of for that reason. themselves rest is history! For me, I get most enjoyment out of have a science or research aspect to lectures." enough." watching the students develop from them? KM: And why do you think it is KM: Have you found your geology the first time they approach me with FELIX THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON 13.02.2015 37 Travel Travel Editor Yung Nam Cheah [email protected] Travel Editor Yung Nam Cheah

student. In some of the earlier expeditions students do not seem to have been constrained by the need to find a job and some expeditions seemed to proceed at quite a leisurely pace. Take the expedition to Africa and the Americas in 1960 which ran from March to November involving overland travel across both continents undertaking a survey of private light aircraft and their activities. Nobody these days would be likely to have the time and resources to undertake this type of expedition.

KM: Is there one place you have never been that you would still love to go to?

LC: There are lots of wonderful places still to go to, and the world is full of fantastic journeys that I would love to make. It’s impossible for me to pick out one! There are a whole host of places that I would love to visit, and hope to one day.

KM: And what is your next adventure?

LC: Travelling in the Arctic is a Could College wonderful way to meet people who often later become your close friends. This summer, with the help of some Greenlandic friends, I am travelling to a remote settlement in the north west of Greenland, leaving loads of time for potential delays so that I am back in time for my College pay for your next commitments… KM: Finally, what do you say to those who may not have much experience of expeditions but would really love to go on one?

LC: 18 expeditions applied to the holiday? Imperial College Exploration Board this year, of which 13 or 14 will go ahead. If you have no experience at all, join one of the clubs or societies, which can be a great way The 2013 expedition took seven Imperial students to the famous Yosemite National Park in Califonia, USA Photo: Flickr/ Dhilung Kirat to get to know others as well as build your experience. Most Imperial the idea to when they return safely to to North Jan Mayen Island on which extent. expeditions have a good legacy my office just after they come back, there were five fatalities and the component and you might find having seen through their proposal report serves in part as a fitting KM: Due to the expense of someone who will be looking for safely from start to finish. tribute to those who perished. Most expeditions, it seems they have another member of their expedition Having said that, with my of the party had been to Svalbard, historically been more of a rich or will take you through the planning mountaineering and polar operating boats and mountaineering, person’s retreat. Do you feel this is of one. Contact us early on in the experience, when I get an exciting the previous year. still the case? Board and we will do our best to trip related to those, I do sometimes The expedition of 8 men had been LC: Imperial College has always had support you through, or send you wish I could go on them, although operating as two parties, one in a tradition to support their students in the direction of someone who this doesn’t affect the kind of trips the northwest and the other in the to undertake expeditions; this is the can help you. It’s a fantastic way to that are endorsed in the end. For southwest of the island. Two of the raison d’etre for the Board’s existence. develop your skills and have a superb example, your trip across Central Asia northern party travelled by a small, Having funding and approval from experience at the same time. is one I would love to do when I one "I get most rigid hulled, metal boat to pick up the Board can open doors to Trust "It’s a day retire, although maybe not at the enjoyment the southern party. The outward funds and other charities. fantastic To find out more about the board, kind of pace you will be doing it! journey had taken several hours. On Many of the expeditions over the visit their website at http://www3. out of the return journey the wind got up, years were undertaken by fund- way to imperial.ac.uk/expeditions. Maybe you KM: There is always an element watching they hit a sudden squall, the boat was raising, borrowing equipment, gifts of develop could be the next intrepid explorer of danger in expeditions despite students overturned some 35 metres from food and equipment from suppliers, your skills out of Imperial! precautions taken but has anything the shore. 5 out of 6 died; and even and finding a place to travel to within Also, if you would like to find out ever gone seriously wrong on one develop after considerable searching only one their means. These are all useful and have more about our trip cycling over of the Board’s expeditions? when they body was found. Other expeditions skills for future employment. a superb 2000 miles along the Silk Road in LC: It is sobering to read the report return." have suffered the occasional accident Most expeditions can be completed time." Central Asia, visit our website at www. of the 1961 Beerenberg expedition and sadly fatality but not to such an within the budget of each individual tourdestan.co.uk. 38 13.02.2015 THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON FELIX

HANGMAN [email protected] EXCLUSIVE: Hangman discovers sinister plot to open new catering empire in the former Weeks Hall

fter students at the Union this was met with trepidation as some Council voted to condemn were keen to point out that students AWeeks Hall, Hangman has are not used to such varied filling investigated the future plans for the choice when it comes to staples such now derelict building. as the mighty potato. Union Council voted to allow the One warned: “If we start letting building to be used for “non academic them think you can put more into a and academic use,” and although potato than just soggy tuna or plastic it was initially suggested it could cheese, we may see a culinary uprising provide childcare facilities, it has on our hands.” been revealed that it will now house However, when one board member the new TasteImperial Headquarters, suggested the quality of the potato named Commercial Services Corp. should also be addressed, they were The building will be transformed met with unfaltering laughter, with into one giant food hall, spanning one colleague actually wiping tears six floors. There will also be a bar, out of his eyes and another rolling on although this will only serve alcohol the floor. after 5pm so as not to encourage Further blueprints depicted a academics turning to liquor so early series of fountains that would pour on in the day. out drinkable aloe vera water that Although the plans remain top students could then refill their bottles secret, Hangman was able to sneak from, and another bar dedicated into the preliminary meetings, purely to creating the award winning dressed as a busboy and pushing chicken and bacon baguette by hand. a trolley featuring SCR breakfast There was conflict over the idea to delicacies, including three-day-old present facilities for evening meals scrambled eggs and soggy bacon. however, with one member stating Whilst serving up coffee Hangman that “we shouldn’t spoil the students overheard the plans to turn one whole too much.” This jacket potato is too nice to serve in the former hall. Photo: Vegan Feast Catering floor into a bubbletea outlet. Said Nane Jeary, who chaired the one consultant to the board, “That meeting, agreed and then added: “I and Bars and a driving force behind FiveSixEight, McCalidad turned red in from this hall, and the ever-rising vaguely named F-East outlet in the feel uncomfortable providing more the halls takeover, McCalidad in the face and cried “¿POR QUÉ?” price of illegal MSG, refurbishing and JCR is doing really well. Surveys show than one outlet that serves healthly, proposed another Union-ran dining He stated that providing meals that stocking all these facilities may cost that students from the East like food hot meals past 5pm. space be included too. can be prepared without being fried thousands. also from the East, and bubbletea is “However, if we are to add another, Plans were drawn up to advertise or defrosted may be “Pushing the Nane Jeary came up with a quick apparently a delicacy from out there.” we should really shut it by 7pm so it as “The longest bar to also house boat out a bit.” solution however, and pointed out Another plan is to have a 50m long people working late in the library several hundred mice.” However, “We have perfected the tried and that the unspent amenities fund from jacket potato station, complete with are forced to go to Imperial College upon hearing a suggestion from tested formula for producing fries this year was still lying around in a salad bar similar to that in the JCR. Union or h bar.” one consultant that maybe this that have an aftertaste of fish, so why her account. “With the money saved, A different consultant suggested that Union Overlord (Diago McCalidad) outlet could provide more variation change anything?” we could probably even chuck in a the students could then fill a potato was also present. New to the role of than the undistinguishable meals However, one consultant was quick few vending machines, although it with their choice of salad, although Top Guy In Charge of Food, Drinks currently available at h bar and to point out that with no rent coming doesn’t really matter if they work.”

Shock election stats: NEWS WITHOUT how big is yours? new study by Imperial College an Election is involved.” THE NEWS School of Medicine has found In other news, a student has fallen A that the average size of a big seriously ill campus today. A spy at election can very by as much as 2.4 the health centre discovered he had positions from country to country. a whopping 50 positions in his Big Tampon Africans tend to have Big Elections Election – all of the ones on offer. of around 7.8 positions, whereas in Physicians have repeated their Canada the average is 5.4. warnings about the excessive effects King found Silippa Phett, an alpha female, told of democracy on the body, as it can Hangman that the size of the Big lead to starving the brain of blood. Election is not important, it’s about One doctor said, “We recommend asleep how you use it. all students to read the label provided She continued “There’s nothing with Democracy before using it. more satisfying than a Big Election “We know that Democracy can on bed hitting all the right places”. help people to overcome feelings of Hangman did ask if performance inadequacy around their Big Election, of UKIP is reduced with a smaller Election. but overdose can have a number Phett replied, “With a Big Election, of side effects including mocking, the pressure can be just too high and disappointment, and - as seen in this sanitary the likelihood of a unsatisfying finish tragic case – death.” is far greater. Manufacturer ePfizer were “I much prefer a happy ending when unavailable for comment. towls FELIX THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON 13.02.2015 39

HANGMAN [email protected]

Diary Of A Fresher aged 18 3/4

Friday 6th of February It turned out it was just the people bungee jumping from a crane near Queen’s Lawn. I’ve told no-one why I was half an hour late to lectures. Today I went out to TigerTiger with my hall friends, as it was someone’s birthday on another corridor and all the cool kids were going. Tuesday 10th of February It was pretty bad though, I had to pay like £20 to get in, and then I was I went to the library café today for lunch, and saw Dorothy out with Kris, but it kicked out after half an hour as I predrank quite hard and puked up a didn’t make me sad anymore. I got a coffee and sat in the corner planning to mirrored wall. Skype Richard at Leeds Uni, as he’s good with girls and might know what I should do about American Girl. I drunk dialled American Girl too, which was awkward, as she picked up and all I kept doing was singing American Pie down the phone. She texted He said he was busy again getting an outfit together for something called the Otley me after calling me a jerk, and told me not to bother with Valentine’s Day run, so I sat there for a bit whatsapping my Mom. Richard is always too busy to plans. I didn’t even make any? skype since he went back to Leeds after Christmas. Also since he started taking speed he doesn’t really sleep regular hours either so never replies to my text Saturday 7th of February messages. So hungover today, and basically spent all morning slowly throwing up what Keeping in touch with friends from home is hard. felt like half my organs. Went to the library later and just sat on the fourth floor staring blankly at my laptop for eight hours. Wednesday 11th of February Sunday 8th of February I went to sports night tonight, and saw American girl. I apologised and she said it was fine, although I still bought her a couple of snakebites to cheer her up. Still hungover. HOW AM I STILL HUNGOVER We made out in Metric again, I’m such a LAD lol Monday 9th of February Today I walked onto campus late to morning to lectures, and all I could hear Thursday 12th of February was high pitched screaming. I was worried maybe finally someone had snapped and was running around with a sword or something, so decided to HUNGOVER AGAIN WHY GOD WHY hide in the bushes for a while. HOROSCOPES CANCER TAURUS GEMINI VIRGO ARIES LEO

This week you decide to You thought I was joking about This week you develop a This week you try to capitalise This week, following the This week in order to get sneak into the Baftas in the fishcakes. Next cook the strange obsession Chris Kaye, on the Imperial related suspension of your Gaelic an advantage in the union order to touch Benderdickle potatoes in boiling salted water poring over all his Facebook Facebook pages, by creating football group for allegedly sabbatical position elections, Cumberpickle’s sweet for 10 mins. Then leave to photos, writing poems about one related solely to things stealing potatoes, you still are you decide to beef up your sumptuous privately educated cool in a colander for 2 mins him. Unfortunately you that sometimes happen in determined to enter the Hyde application with some slightly face. You decide that disguising and return to the pan on a low discover that due to a mishap imperial (how hilarious). Park relay so you decide to go exaggerated facts about yourself as Helen Mirren is the setting. Mash the potatoes for in the physics department, Unfortunately this incites under a false name. You fail to yourself. The problem is that best plan of action; however 2-3 mins – it should be dry Chris Kaye now has the ability the anger of the orgy master take into account the backlash they immediately see through you are quickly discovered, and fluffy. Stir in lemon zest, to immaculately conceive. You and he comes to your house, from the name “Rolf Harris and this and your claims of your and as according to BAFTA mayonnaise, mustard, capers are impregnated with triplets. forcing you to become the the allegations”. helicopter being shot down rules, you are made Stephen and some seasoning. filling in a human centipede in Afghanistan cause you to

Fry’s sex slave. sandwich. CAPRICORN withdraw. SAGITTARIUS AQUARIUS SCORPIO PISCES LIBRA

This week a cute first year This week, due to no body wanting This week you decide to This week you decide to do the This week you’re a rugby This week you join the student from the Techtonics to take you the Valentine’s ball, use the new instant Google bungee jump for RAG week; player. After getting with a Imperial University Challenge visits Felix and offers to write you decide to auction yourself off translate mode in order to due to a mishap in appliance loose netballer in the union, team. You arrange the tryouts the horoscopes as they’re a bit as a date for charity in the hope better connect with Imperial’s of the bungee cords, as you you take her to Hyde park to for a time when many of the shit. You agree, as long as he of aiding the general atmosphere Malaysian community. You jump of your trousers and finish the deed. You get caught best candidates can’t make it, comes down to the office to of charity. Your plan backfires ask a guy how his day was and underwear come flying off on the railings on the way out and then you bully the person write them. Whilst you play My when the auctioneer has to go into what he’s having for dinner, as you plummet down. Not and you die. who got the 4th place in the Chemical Romance on repeat. negative values, and the union has causing him to rush out of only did Ben Fernando see team to drop out for you, but And he promises to continually to pay £104 to your date to take the room. You find him in a your genitals, your underwear fuck it, at least you’ll be on TV. flicks his black fringe in time to you off their hands. red catsuit with 15 cucumbers is now stuck on the Queen’s the music. Let me know bae lubed up on the bed. Tower for all to see. 40 13.02.2015 THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON FELIX Puzzles [email protected] Puzzles Editor Michael Faggetter Weekly Quiz QuizSoc Anacrostic Grid Paul G

This quiz has been brought to you by QuizSoc: [email protected] The solutions to each pair of clues are anagrams of one another, but only one of them belongs in the grid. When the correct solutions from each pair have all been entered, 1) The Fine Arts the first column will give the name of a European airline. What name is given to a three-panel composition of paintings, such as The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch? 1. Girl’s name || Relating to hearing 5: More openly sexual || Very strong wind 2: Polluted || Referee 6: Causing fright || Insignificant 2) In the News 3: Make nervous || Tranquil 7: Firearm used for hunting || Zeros Which bank has been recently revealed to have helped thousands dodge taxes by 4: Herb || Self-important 8: Consecrated || Coniferous trees using Swiss accounts and loophole abuses? 9: Enthusiastic || Tally 3) World History The genocide of the Tutsi of 1994 happened in which African country? 4) Science of Old Ancient Greeks believed that the world was composed of four what? 5) Making Your Science Degree Work For You What term is given to animals that lay eggs but keep them inside the mother’s body until they are ready to hatch? 6) World Geography What is the capital of Kenya? 7) Popular Misconceptions Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, hero of Waterloo and later Prime Minister of the UK, was born in which country? 8) Literature and Written Words C.S. Lewis wrote a series of novels featuring which mythical land? 9) This Day in History 13th February 711 BC is considered to be the traditional date of birth of Jimmu, who was the legendary first what of Japan? 10) ...and if you got all the others right, their initials spell out... Which of the 20 natural amino acids possesses an alcohol group and a chiral centre in its side chain? Cross-number FUCWIT This one is a little bit challenging... Send in scanned copy of your completed puzzles to Across Down [email protected]. This is the first time that this puzzle has made an 1. Three times the same digit 1. 22 across minus 4 across Points are awarded for each correct solution, appearance in Felix so let us know what you think. 4. Five times 7 down 2. 21 across plus 24 across Bonus points (in brackets) are awarded to the first correct answer! If you need somewhere to start, check out the ‘Last 6. Consecutive digits in order 3. 9 across times 27 down Week’s Solutions’ section for a hint. 9. 1 down minus 25 down 4. Twice 15 across Everyone must be far too busy to submit puzzle solutions this week – we had very few correct answers! 11. 14 down plus 25 down 5. Its digits total twenty If there is a puzzle you would like to see, we’d love to 12. 15 across plus 24 across 7. 22 down plus 26 down hear from you – or perhaps submit your own! 13. 8 down minus one 8. 22 down plus 4 down Points available this week: 15. 14 down minus 20 across 10. 1 across squared Cross-number 3 points (+2) Weekly Quiz 4 points (+2) 16. 5 down times 21 across 12. 15 down squared Word Star 3 points (+4) 17. 6 across divided by 15 across 14. 18 across plus 4 down Word Search 2 points (+1) Anacrostic 4 points (+2) 18. See 14 down 15. See 12 down 20. 18 across plus 15 across 19. Nine times 29 across 21. See 2 down 21. 6 across divided by 4 across Leaderboard 22. 28 across rearranged 22. See 8 down Individuals: Teams: 1. Adam Stewart 98 1. Fully Erect 83 24. See 12 across 23. 27 down plus 4 down 2. Catmelon 39 2. L3Gendary 55 26. Consecutive digits in order 25. Three times 7 down 3. Jem Ong 31 3. Mindsuckers 48 4. Kebab King 21 4. Dapper Giraffe 15 28. 29 across plus 1 across 26. See 7 down 5. Fengchu Zhang 3 5. AnyonebutKofi 8 6. Gabriel Quek 2 6. Aerodoku 2 29. See 19 down 27. Twice 12 across 7. Guang <3 Le 1 FELIX THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON 13.02.2015 41 Puzzles Puzzles Editor Michael Faggetter [email protected] Puzzles Editor Michael Faggetter Word Search

Since today is Friday 13th, here is a quick wordsearch containing a selection of common, and uncommon , things that some consider to be lucky. Try and find them all! CRICKETS WISHBONE TORTOISES ACORNS SHOOTING STAR CHIMNEY SWEEPS FOUR-LEAF CLOVER BACULUM PENNY BAMBOO (RACCOON ANKH SEVEN PENIS-BONE) SAPPHIRE POT-OF-GOLD NUTMEG FEATHER WISHING WELL GOLD INGOT BUDDHA SCARABS BIBLE EVIL EYE ALLIGATOR TEETH RED BATS EYELASH TIGER BLOOD TAROT DREAM CATCHER GOLDFISH LADYBIRD HORSESHOE ALBATROSS LUCKY-DICE COINS CROSS PIG HAMSA KEY RAINBOW

Benedict Word Star Last Week’s Cumberbox Solutions STILL UNSOLVED FROM LAST WEEK! Find 5 four-letter words using the clues written below. Cross-number hint: Across Fit them all into the star (the arrows indicate the direction in which the 4. The number of days in a year word is read).

Clues: Weekly Quiz

1. Cheap fat used for cooking and adding texture to pastry 1) Saturn 3) /b/ 5) India 7) Unobtainium 9) Titan 2. The fourth community card in Texas Hold’em 2) Ottomans 4) Rembrandt van Rijn 6) Quaalude 8) Epitaphs 10) Sobriquet 3. Kangaroo stabilizer 4. Having a double purpose Crossword Sudoku 5. Symbol of toughness 42 13.02.2015 THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON FELIX Clubs and Societies [email protected] C & S Editor Ben Howitt Like Le Mans, but on eight wheels Lizzie Campbell at the Skate Society’s first speed skating session

t was an inauspicious start to last Universities worldwide. year’s Le Mans 24 hour roller This Wednesday was our first Irelay. One seventh of the team training session. Though bitterly cold, had missed the train and there had the sun was shining and we headed been one injury before the race had down to Serpentine road in Hyde even started; our team shirts were Park. Setting out a small circuit, we homemade with sharpies on the began with the basics and learned the Eurostar and the rain was practically stance preferred by speed skaters… biblical. getting really, really low! After two Nonetheless, we soldiered on and minutes skating in this position, our managed to steal away first prize in thighs were on fire and our lower the student category. One golden cup, backs were starting to complain. a bottle of champagne and enough The paceline (a technique where a time for the muscle spasms to subside long line of skaters all skate in perfect later, we decided to go again, except unison, so that wind resistance is this time bigger and better! reduced for everyone except the poor This year, ten members of IC Skate leader) was equally difficult, with Soc are undertaking one of the world’s everyone bumping into each other most challenging skate races. and falling behind in turns. How on This is where Adrian Wordsworth Earth were we going to take on this comes in. Adrian has been skating mammoth race?! since he was a toddler and has gone And yet, within half an hour we on to win 21 British speed skating were getting it, and skating with titles. He has been a fixture on the UK perfect form around our circuit. We skating scene for decades. learned about planning lines around Our captain and Chair last year, corners, about passing batons without Jenny Lenz, met Adrian last year at decelerating (scary!) and much more. Le Mans and Adrian has generously Within 2 hours we were all hooked, offered to train our team this year. and excited for the next training Keeping lower allows you to carry more speed around corners. Photo: AW SpeedSkating His company Troup Bywaters + session! Anders will also sponsor us for some By the time Le Mans rolls around in you’re interested in learning to skate, skates and pads. be found on Facebook at groups/ real shirts this year! Thanks to this June, we’re hoping to be a well-oiled or in joining the speed skating team, Speed Skate training is the first ICskatesoc. Adrian’s page, with photos, generosity we plan to steal back the skating machine – in no small part IC SkateSoc meet every Wednesday at week of every month at the same tips and tricks, can be found on facebook Cup of Glory from our rivals at other thanks to Adrian’s expert training. If 13:00 in Beit Quad, and can provide time as usual skate sessions. We can at AWSpeedSkating. ArtsFest to hit Imperial next week

JONATHAN MCNAUGHT The successes of Arts clubs at for the first time and held their semi- before in the recently redeveloped If Jazz and Rock are more your ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Imperial are far reaching. A few years final at Imperial. With more teams Union Concert Hall, ICSO thing, then don’t miss the Tribute BOARD CHAIR ago, in a competition that only ran competing than any other University, performing at Cadogan Hall, home Night on Thursday 19th in Metric, once, Imperial College Symphony and an award for best soloist, the of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, or Big Band playing up the Queen’s Orchestra (ICSO) was awarded the event was a sure sign of Imperial’s and the IC Choir performing Carmina Tower on Monday lunchtime (I’m rtsFest? What’s that?” I title of “Best University Orchestra in talents. Burana in the Great Hall. And on praying for good weather...). Or hear you chorus, “There the UK”. That’s quite an achievement We have five orchestras, one top of all this, they all take part in maybe it’s Dance? On Friday 20th, our “Aare scientists, engineers against universities in which most of the best university cinemas in ArtsFest! ArtsFest spectacular finale will take and medics at Imperial who like arts?” orchestras have at least some music the country, fantastic choirs and ArtsFest is a weeklong celebration place in the Union Concert Hall with I may be totally biased, but I really students! ambitious art and dance groups. Each of Art, Drama, Music, Dance and a variety of performances from Dance believe the answer is yes, and ArtsFest Just a couple of weeks ago, the one has a number of fantastic events everything in between that Imperial societies such as Funkology, Latin is one of the many times during the International Championships of coming up for you this term – such has to offer. This year it takes place and Belly Dancing, musical societies, year to show it. Collegiate A Cappella came to the UK as more ambitious shows than ever from 16th –20th February and has international societies such as more events and more collaborations ChineseSoc, all hosted by ComedySoc. than ever before. And crucially, every “I have too much work, I can’t single event is free. come”, you say. Well firstly these There are events every evening. events are all free. Almost all of these Some highlights include Imperial societies would (rightly!) normally College Sinfonietta on Monday 16th charge for tickets, so it’s an amazing performing the music to Fantasia opportunity open to everyone. Two live in the Union Concert Hall, in societies will also be holding “Concert collaboration with Imperial Cinema, Teasers” for you: the IC Choir on FilmSoc and ICTV. On Wednesday Thursday lunchtime in Sherfield, 18th there’s another chance to hear and ICSO’s Open Rehearsal in the our A Cappella groups, this time Great Hall on Wednesday evening – a performing a variety of pieces with concert which will eventually feature the fantastic Musical Theatre Society the BBC Young Musician 2014 on the IC Big Band’s performance from the Queen’s Tower has featured in every Artsfest so far. Opposite (left to right): in the Union Concert Hall – surely 28th February! IC Juggling, IC Choir, IC Jazz & Rock. Photo: (left to right) Daniel Elson, Thomas Angus, IC Choir, Facebook. not to be missed! There are also events at lunch-time FELIX THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON 13.02.2015 43 Clubs and Societies [email protected] C & S Editor Ben Howitt every day! From performances in the LeoSoc. Not only will they be www.facebook.com/icartsfest. the theme of Light: to celebrate the provide the perfect place to meet Business school entrance, to juggling presenting right under your nose You don’t always hear about the International Year of Light. new people while continuing with on Dalby Court, there’s something for in the Sherfield Main Entrance, but arts at Imperial – can Art and Science People come to Imperial because a passion, and taking a well-earned you there too. You can get involved head up to the 5th floor in Sherfield really interact? I strongly believe of the arts – having a strong break from the library. on Monday by doing your own where you will find the Blyth Gallery. so; there are over 1600 members of musical scene can be seen has a huge ArtsFest is a chance to do just chalk drawing outside the Queen’s There you will find a secret garden arts related clubs at Imperial – and differentiator between universities, that. You might not think you know Tower Rooms, and participate in where you can sit on a bench and over 10,000 people attend events especially for those who weren’t sure anything about music, or care for art, (or observe) a piano masterclass admire the work of these fantastic every year. The Imperial Fringe on whether to study science or music, but I’d urge you to give it a try this from the Chamber Music Society on artists. Thursday 19th at 17:00 in the Business like me. Promoting the arts scene will year. Come to one of the many events Wednesday afternoon. And there are more events than School Main Entrance is a great give a further example of the fantastic that will be going on; try something Finally, there are the Art these – a full timetable can be found example of scientists collaborating Clubs and Societies at this University, new and you may be surprised just Exhibitions from PhotoSoc and below or on our Facebook page https:// with a wide range of societies, with and collaborations between clubs what a good time you have! What’s On – A guide to ArtsFest

Big Band on the Tower Writing Workshop /Book Blind Date ICSO Open Rehearsal ‘The Secret Garden’ – a Vernissage IC Big Band kicks off Imperial College Writers’ Soc and IC Science Fiction bring With their concert scheduled for the next LeoSoc and PhotoSoc invite you to the ArtsFest 2015 in style! The band will play an you this event – a drop-in writing workshop week, this open rehearsal by Imperial’s vernissage of their exhibition ‘The Secret uplifting set of quality big band jazz from and book blind date. Join in whenever you very own Symphony Orchestra is set to be Garden’ in the Blyth Gallery. Become part of the balcony of Queen’s Tower. like between 18:00 and 20:00 for writing something special, especially as the BBC the artwork by taking a seat on a park bench MONDAY 12:30 – 13:30 exercises, and learn more about the young musician who is joining them for the and enjoy some free nibbles and wine. QUEEN’S TOWER upcoming Writing Competition organised concert is set to join them for this night. by the two societies. You will also leave with Here’s a unique chance to see how one of the THURSDAY 18:30 – 19:30 an unknown book, and perhaps not one that best student orchestras in the UK rehearses BLYTH GALLERY, SHERFIELD LEVEL 5 Chalk Drawing you would have picked up in the first place, with their conductor Richard Dickins. Some dedicated people from LeoSoc will which is a great way to discover a new author be in the possession of 200 pieces of chalk, or genre. WEDNESDAY 19:00 Tribute Night and they will be drawing all over the ground TUESDAY 18:00 – 20:00 THE GREAT HALL Prepare for an evening of riffs as Jazz&Rock outside Sherfield! Become part of ArtsFest by CLORE LECTURE THEATRE, HUXLEY are inviting all their members to perform making your own chalk drawing! songs by their favourite artists in Metric. A Very Vocal Evening 3.0 Grab a drink and enjoy these new renditions MONDAY 14:00 AND ONWARDS The A Cappella + Musical Theatre (MTSoc) of both old and new classics. OUTSIDE SHERFIELD, QUEEN’S LAWN Societies highlight of the year! Be prepared THURSDAY 19:00 for an evening of highest quality singing and METRIC much entertainment with both individual Fantasia Film Night performances from MTSoc and the various A Join us for an exciting evening of film and Cappella groups, as well as a joint number! wonder at the Imperial Cinema! We start WEDNESDAY 19:00 off with a few short films produced by ICTV UNION CONCERT HALL members, followed by a performance of Disney’s Fantasia – a visual masterwork to the tunes of Tchaikovsky among others. Lunchtime Juggling Choir Lunchtime performance Representatives from FilmSoc will be there Ever wanted to try juggling? The juggling Looking forward to the IC Choir concert this to provide you with trivia and the historical society will be bringing their juggling tools term? How about a taster of the fine music background of Fantasia. Join us for a cinema and various other things to the Dalby Court that they are singing during this lunchtime setting as you have never seen before! for a lunchtime try-out! performance in Sherfield? Enjoy the majestic WEDNESDAY 12:00 – 14:00 tunes of Carmina Burana, and perhaps some MONDAY 19:00 – 21:00 DALBY COURT old classics from Handel’s Messiah. ICSE Lunchtime performance UNION CONCERT HALL Instead of walking to Hyde Park in this THURSDAY 12:00 – 13:00 cold weather, bring your lunch over to the Masterclass: Margaret Fingerhut SHERFIELD LEVEL 2 Business School Entrance for this lunchtime Wind Band Lunch Performance Play the piano? Want to see a professional performance by the IC String Ensemble. As Wind Band is bringing you the lunchtime and accomplished pianist teach talented Blyth Lunchtime concert one of the final lunchtime performances entertainment for the second day of ArtsFest. Imperial students? Join the audience for And straight after the choir’s performance, during the ArtsFest week, this one is not to Scuttle over to the Business School Entrance this masterclass, where members of the why don’t you take the lift up to the fifth be missed! at 12:30 to hear them perform their latest Chamber Music Society will be given 30 floor for the regular Blyth Lunchtime FRIDAY 13:00 – 14:00 repertoire (and get a taster of upcoming minutes of public tuition by Margaret concerts. Jessica Chan will be performing BUSINESS SCHOOL ENTRANCE concerts). Fingerhut. Places are limited, so first come Beethoven’s Piano Sonata in D, Op 28. TUESDAY 12:30 first served! BUSINESS SCHOOL ENTRANCE WEDNESDAY 14:30 – 16:30 THURSDAY 13:00 – 14:00 ArtsFest Finale ENSEMBLE ROOM 1, BLYTH MUSIC READ LECTURE THEATRE, SHERFIELD The Grand Finale of ArtsFest! Come enjoy a CENTRE LEVEL 5 show with the best of dance, comedy, music ArtsFest Lecture: DarwinTunes and singing that the arts societies and more Dr Bob MacCallum is a researcher at Imperial at Imperial have to offer! With a casual who is looking at the evolutionary aspects of setting, the ArtsFest week will be finished off music – how come we like certain tunes and Chamber Choir Evensong by a variety of performances, such as belly rhythms? He set up a website to test whether After a hard day’s work, pop over to Holy dancing, a teaser of MTSoc’s new show, and random noise could eventually become Trinity on Prince Consort Road for some some Chinese traditional music to celebrate music through a selection process. Join us for high-quality choral evensong and a service. the Chinese New Year. Feel free to pop down a very exciting lecture that combines science The IC Chamber Choir will be performing to the Union Bar for a drink while you enjoy – the core of Imperial College – with music as this variety show, and help out Unicef in their part of ArtsFest. WEDNESDAY 17:30 – 18:30 charity work by buying some cupcakes! TUESDAY 18:00 HOLY TRINITY CHURCH, PRINCE FRIDAY 19:00 READ LECTURE THEATRE CONSORT RD UNION CONCERT HALL 44 13.02.2015 THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON FELIX Clubs and Societies [email protected] C & S Editor Ben Howitt Art explosion tops off ICSM’s Rag Week

BEN HOWITT from various Medics’ performing Two of the Union’s sabbatical SECTION EDITOR arts societies including music, Dance officers, Abi De Bruin (Deputy and Light Opera, as well as a sneak President, Clubs & Societies) and preview of ICSM Drama’s upcoming Chris Kaye (Deputy President, he Imperial College School production of Beauty and the Beast. Welfare) attended the evening, and of Medicine Students’ Union ICSM Light Opera and ICSM Dance Abi lauded the “incredible ICSM (ICSMSU) presented an Arts performed numbers from Hairspray talent” on show. T th Revue last Sunday, 8 February, and Cole Porter’s Anything Goes, Sarah Hough, who founded Arts to conclude what has been, by all while the evening also saw, for the Revue and planned much of the accounts, a very successful Raising first time ever, a performance from event, said “I didn’t realise quite and Giving (RAG) week. all of the Medics’ music societies how much organisation and how The show was performed in the (Chamber Choir, Choir, Orchestra, many logistical nightmares would be Union Concert Hall and featured acts Jazz Band and Bands). involved in creating this event! But ‘Turn it off’ from the Book of Mormon, performed by ICSM Light seeing four of ICSM’s arts societies Opera. Photo: Dominic Lagrue come together to create something incredible and doing what we love to for a chance to participate in the had previously avoided his head being do made it all worthwhile. live Bushtucker trial in the bar on shaved on tour. “I hope Arts Revue will continue to Thursday. A fundraising total is yet to be be a yearly opportunity for these four One of the more controversial released by the ICSMSU committee, sister societies to work together and events was the time-honoured with further events running over the show you all how incredibly talented tradition of ‘4-skinning’. The idea next few weeks, including the RAG and enthusiastic our members are.” is that 4 second year medics are Valentine’s Ball at the Phoenix Arts RAG week featured ‘I’m a Club nominated from the ICSM sports Club on Monday. Captain, Get Me Out of Here’, which teams, who then compete to gain the It’s really reassuring to see that was filmed on Tuesday and screened most sponsorship. The winner has Medics have time to cultivate in the Reynolds bar on Thursday their head shaved. The lucky prize interests outside of their degrees night. Medics’ team captains (and this year went to Football’s Wenrui (at least in the first two years), and Sarah Hough performs as Elle from the musical Legally Blonde. Photo: some of the ICSMSU Exec) were Sun. Wen described the experience as we here at Felix look forward with Facebook given ‘fun’ challenges, competing “even more crushing” given that he anticipation to next year’s Arts Revue. FemSoc ask: Everyday sexism or a deep rooted issue?

Feminist Society is launching the campaign IC SEXISM To gather students’ experiences on campus to document the experiences of students and staff with respect to facing everyday sexism at Imperial We hope to gather your experiences of sexism through College London. our survey, Through sharing your stories (anonymously) The College, as the top STEM subject higher institution with the student body, the College and the Union, in the UK as well as the world plays an important role we hope to raise awareness of the level of sexism in providing a place where the people in the various experienced by students, and highlight areas where faculties are given a place to work and achieve things on change is required to combat sexism on campus. If you an egalitarian basis. Imperial should be a place where have an experience of sexism you want to share, fill in a biases of gender are muted in the face of equality of short form at imperialcollegeunion.org/icsexism. talent, hard work and determination. But – as is evident – The ratio of male to female in the To get people talking about gender and Imperial in some courses is widely known to be heavily skewed with some like Physics and Engineering being feminism far over the college average of 65% male students. This disparity, attributed to and integrated with the Through a series of informal and fun events as well as a wider societal issues to do with gender, makes Imperial panel discussion, we hope to start an open and inclusive vulnerable to the gender discrimination that may sweep conversation on campus about what constitutes sexism into various aspects of the wellbeing of the members. and why it’s a problem. More broadly, we’d also like to Hence, it is important to get a conversation started on encourage more discussion around gender & feminism. this. Innocuous statements may hide the bigger picture. It is in the pixels that the picture is hidden, so why not To empower students to make change happen zoom into it? We would like to know about your experience of Through our discussion based events, women’s space college life – any instance that you felt undermined the and weekly Feminist Society meetings, you can take balance expected to exist in both academic and social part in discussions aimed at finding ways of tackling pursuits the College campuses. The experiences of sexist behaviour on campus, be it through creating a members of the College, by being part of a world class supportive women’s network at Imperial, or influencing community, have the potential to reverberate much the union or college to change its policies... or any other beyond. idea you might have! This information will be collected and moderated Visit us at facebook.com/groups/icsexism or tweet confidentially and your experiences, however minute, @ICSexism to give your views and to find out about will make part of a large mosaic that will seek to future events. understand the conversation on campus and more broadly, initiate change. The campaign has 3 main aims: NIVEDITA KALLA ICSEXISM COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER Image: Feminist Society. FELIX THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON 13.02.2015 45

Sport Editor: Kunal Wagle

Imperial host Hyde Park Relays Imperial Devils face crunch clashes this weekend

Photo: Imperial Devils Imperial Devils B head into a with Spitfires’ Division-topping two-game road trip this weekend penalty kill at 88.9%, though they on a dry stretch of late, having lack on the power play, with no lost their last three games since goals so far this season. a strong season opener, which Sunday sees the Devils B head saw the team shutout Cardiff back out to Oxford, for game 2/2 The start line of the men's race Photo: IC Cross Country Breadhawks for a 6-0 win on home against the Women’s Blues (the ice at the Streatham Ice Arena league is mixed as a whole, though MATT DOUTHWAITE fast. Bannon and Short jostled for teams. In the Women’s, the ICXC (SIA). Oxford and Cambridge each field ICXC CAPTAIN 1st place at the front. The hundreds Gazelles were led home by Marta First up on Saturday 14th is a separate teams). The teams last of other runners sailed past – not Sawicka in 20:18. Valentine’s date at Coventry & met just two weekends prior, when only IC Cross Country and Athletics, After all the excitement of the Warwick Panthers B, a team the the Blues stole a 3-8 win at the n Saturday 7th February, but also Imperial students with relays were over, the teams headed for Devils B last met on 29th November SIA; the Devils again performed more than 600 runners from all manner of points to prove and the Jacket Potatoes and prize giving. for a tight 2-3 loss, with all goals strongest in the second, with Ouniversities across the UK, the a hilarious range of fancy dress The competition in the end turned against the Devils scored in the boxscore against 4-1-3. Netherlands and Poland took part costumes. Spotted outfits included out too strong for the Men’s A Team, first period. A weak first period Six of the Blues’ eight goals were in the Hyde Park Relays, hosted by superheroes, gentleman dressed in who placed 4th by just 12 seconds, is a pattern that’s plagued the scored by #27 Jennifer Lawrence, Imperial College Cross Country and a bra and hot pants and Braveheart- beaten out by Cambridge, Oxford Devils throughout the season, with who’s had an incredible season Athletics Club. Teams comprised of 6 style tartan robes. and Sheffield, despite Bannon’s average goals against standing at registering 4.7 Pts/Game. Shots men or 4 women, each running a lap Unfortunately Cambridge were effort awarding him second fastest 3-0.5-1 by period. on goal (SOG) during their last of the 5 km course, beginning by the first at the end of leg one, 12 seconds leg of the day. The girls had fared meet were 53-29 in favour of the Serpentine and looping clockwise up ahead of Bannon, who ran 14:33! He better, placing 3rd overall, behind Devils, but the Blues’ netminder to Marble Arch before returning to handed the bat over to Chris Olley Cambridge and Oxford once again, did a stellar job of keeping them the bandstand. to charge down the Cambridge team. thanks to the storming run from out, and went on for a .943 save The likes of Cambridge, Oxford, He ran a time of 14:47, extremely Johnson, awarding her 3rd fastest percentage; the Blues’ (and Portsmouth, Manchester and many impressive. Over in the Women’s woman. In other categories, the Lawrence’s in particular) precision of the London Colleges sent teams to race, Imo had handed over to Sarah Polish University of Poznan beat the meant 29 was enough. The Devils compete, and were joined by over 150 Johnson, who went on to run one of Dutch to fastest foreign team and will look for a stronger start in the students of Imperial College taking the legs of the day with 17:16. The Fisher Hall won the Halls prize. first period, and to turn more of on the challenge themselves. mass of teams around the bandstand Afterwards came the after party those SOGs into goals. At 12 noon, Club Captain Matt created a fantastic atmosphere and in the union. The Hyde Park Relays Photo: Imperial Devils Douthwaite started the race with a some spectators ventured out onto Horn made an appearance, sounding Kelly is expected to get the start welcome and a blast of the whistle, the course to provide support for off the celebratory drinks for the in net – his first of the season – with and the leg one runners took off down their runners. organisers, Chris Bannon and Will usual goaltender #17 Zimmerman the opening straight led by some The Imperial Men’s A’s were still Jones. A massive thank you to them unavailable, but due to return for pretty big names in the running world holding on tight with pressure from for working incredibly hard to bring Sunday’s game. and some more excitable internal Sheffield and Oxford too. A third one of the smoothest HPRs in recent Devils A also play on Saturday runners. Chris (Thomas) put in a strong run memory, as well as all the volunteers against Southampton Spitfires B Chris Bannon, one of the main to keep them in the game following who helped out on the day. at home for their first meet this organisers of the event, was first David Freeman, handing on to Simon Notable moments of the night season after a postponed game up for the Imperial Men’s A Team, Prigent and finally James Ellis. The included the arrival of Portsmouth, before the holiday break. The A hoping to defend his 2 year title of Women’s A’s were also battling away with their freshers attached to team are 2-3-0 on their season, Photo: Imperial Devils fastest leg at the event, but faced stiff and with great runs from freshers melons to drink out of, some friendly and the Spitfires 1-0-2, giving As always, this weekend’s games competition from Cambridge runners Alex Mundell and Kara Meunier with drinking rivalry with Cambridge, them an even point match-up, will be blacked out on all local who’d lined up some of their best. 18:03 and 20:00 respectively. some possible over celebration from a but the Spitfires have the edge networks; so be sure to get yourself Also on the start line was Imo The Men’s B Team boys had certain organiser and of course Taylor in the tables with fewer games down to the Streatham Ice Arena Simmonds running for the Imperial impressive performances from Tom Swift. played and +1 (Devils at par) goal on Saturday for a 9PM faceoff of Women’s A Team, backed up by the Bartissol and Dom Marshall, both Full results can be found at difference. The Devils’ power play Devils vs Spitfires! full scoring team who placed 8th in pushing 17 minutes. Notable runs in hydeparkrelays.co.uk. If you want to conversion comes in at 38.5%, BUCS XC seven days earlier, so hopes the Men’s Chuckles and Dangerzone get involved look out for the event second only to UCL, with 40%. This OLLIE FORD were high for a medal. Teams were Marcus Ingram and Alex next year or email run@imperial. makes for an interesting matchup IC DEVILS WEBMASTER Once underway, the race moved Diaz, both with fastest legs for their ac.uk. 46 13.02.2015 THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON FELIX

Sport Editor: Kunal Wagle “Come, let’s live the dream again” That is what Sachin Tendulkar has being telling Indian fans in the latest advertising campaign for the World Cup. On the eve of the tournament, Kunal Wagle tells Felix what to expect. Pool A Pool B England Bangladesh South Africa West Indies

Best World Cup Performance: Best World Cup Performance: Best World Cup Performance: Best World Cup Performance: Final (1987, 1992) Super Eights (2007) Semi-Final (1992, 1999, 2007) Champions (1975, 1979)

ODI Ranking: 5 ODI Ranking: 9 ODI Ranking: 3 ODI Ranking: 8

Key Player: Key Player: Key Player: Key Player:

After England installed him as captain Eoin Bangladeshi captain Mashrafe Mortaza is AB de Villiers put his name in the record books Explosive batsman Chris Gayle can win a game Morgan will be desperate to prove that the a medium-fast bowler who has shown the (again) by blasting the fastest century in ODI for the West Indies in the first ten overs. In a decision to remove Alistair Cook as captain is potential to be a big threat. cricket last month. time of turmoil for the team, he will be expected justified. to come up with some hefty blows. But also look out for: But also look out for: But also look out for: But also look out for: Shakib Al-Hasan will be keen to demonstrate Hashim Amla is South Africa’s opener and the Alex Hales and Jos Buttler are explosive why overturning his ban was a good call. newly installed Test captain will be keen to show Darren Sammy could be key to the West batsmen when they are on song and could make that he is just as valuable in the short form of Indies’ hopes. or break England’s World Cup with their batting the game as the long form. in the tournament. New Zealand Zimbabwe Best World Cup Performance: India Australia Semi-Finals (1975, 1979, 1992, 1999, 2007, 2011) Best World Cup Performance: Best World Cup Performance: Super Sixes (1999, 2003) Best World Cup Performance: ODI Ranking: 6 Champions (1983, 2011) Champions (1987, 1999, 2003, 2007) ODI Ranking: 10 Key Player: ODI Ranking: 2 ODI Ranking: 1 Key Player: Kiwi batsman Kane Williamson has Key Player: Key Player: transformed himself over the last few years into In the victory against Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe’s top New Zealand’s best batsman. Having had a stellar test series down under, order batsman Hamilton Masakadza scored a Australia’s new ball pairing were destructive Virat Kohli had a quiet tri-series against brilliant century to guide his country home. in the Carlton-Mid Tri Series against England But also look out for: England and Australia. He knows he is one of and India, with Mitchell Starc twice removing the best batsmen in the world, and has a great But also look out for: two batsmen in the opening overs. And Mitchell Like Australia, New Zealand’s new ball pair, opportunity to prove it. Johnson isn’t bad either. which is made up of Trent Boult and Tim In the same game, Sean Williams was very Southee, are very strong. But also look out for: impressive. He took three wickets at a cost of But also look out for: only 35 runs in ten overs. The key to India’s chances will be how their He’s started to call himself the man Australia Afghanistan fragile bowling line up fares on the flat decks in can rely on, and if Glenn Maxwell can pair that Australia. The injury to Ishant Sharma will have Ireland with his aggressive batting, Australia can expect Best World Cup Performance: done them no favours as well. some very high totals. Debut Best World Cup Performance: Super Eights ODI Ranking: 11 Pakistan Sri Lanka ODI Ranking: 12 Key Player: Best World Cup Performance: Best World Cup Performance: Champions (1992) Key Player: Champions (1996) At age 30, Nawroz Mangal is the elder statesman of the Afghanistan squad and will ODI Ranking: 7 The hero of Ireland’s 2011 campaign, ODI Ranking: 4 thus want to lead by example. Kevin O’Brien will be eager to showcase his Key Player: destructive ability again this time around. Key Player: But also look out for: Shahid Afridi has announced that he will retire But also look out for: Kumar Sangakkara has announced that he will Captain Mohammad Nabi is usually from ODIs after the World Cup. Despite this, retire from ODI cricket after this World Cup. Afghanistan’s most reliable player. he knows that, with both bat and ball, he has the Surrey’s wicketkeeper-batsman Gary Wilson He is Sri Lanka’s leading run scorer and seems ability to win games for his country. And lose took Ireland close to the Quarter-Finals in 2011, to be getting better every day. He carries with them. but succumbed to a shocking LBW decision. him Sri Lanka’s hopes. Scotland But also look out for: United Arab Emirates But also look out for: Best World Cup Performance: Group Stage (1999, 2007) Also retiring is captain Misbah-ul-Haq. He is Best World Cup Performance: Lasith Malinga has been hailed as the greatest the mainstay of the Pakistan middle order and Group Stage (1999, 2007) death bowler ever, and he knows that opposition ODI Ranking: 9 will be desperate to end his limited overs career batsmen will fear that toe-crushing in-swinging on a high in Melbourne. ODI Ranking: 9 yorker. FELIX THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON 13.02.2015 47

Sport Editor: Kunal Wagle

What is the best team ever? World Cup What is the best format? The BBC announced theirs last week. Now, Dream Team The ICC has been searching for the perfect it’s Felix’s turn to choose World Cup format for years. Felix picks the eleven to watch at this year’s tournament.

Steve Smith is captain of our dream team Photo: CA

The greatest One Day team, as voted for by BBC readers Photo: BBC David Warner (AUS)

6. 6. Who the BBC Who we’d Chris Gayle (WI) The 1992 World Cup has often been viewed as the fairest Photo: PA chose Adam have chosen Kumar Gilchrist Sangakkara Virat Kohli (IND) 1. 1. f there is one thing that can be they say that it felt quite long and Chris Gayle 7. Adam Gilchrist 7. Steve Smith (AUS) (Captain) said about the ICC Cricket World bloated. Jacques Kallis Jacques Kallis ICup, it’s that over the years, the The ICC responded with the 2007 2. 2. Kane Williamson (NZ) International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup, but that proved to be a Sachin 8. Sachin 8. themselves have been very unsure financial disaster. In the 2007 World Tendulkar Shane Warne Tendulkar Lasith Malinga AB de Villiers (SAF) (WK) over what the best format is. Cup, the teams were split into four A large amount of this has been groups of four, with the top two 3. 9. 3. 9. Glenn Maxwell (AUS) down to the debate over how many from each progressing to a Super Brian Lara Wasim Akram Brian Lara Glenn McGrath teams there should be in the World Eights stage. But what the ICC hadn’t Mitchell Johnson (AUS) Cup. The governing body is keen considered were the ramifications 4. 10. 4. 10. to downsize, whereas the Associate of the big commercial teams being Sir Viv Brett Lee Sir Viv Wasim Akram Tim Southee (NZ) nations are, predictably, not. knocked out. Richards Richards The format has varied widely over Whilst I appreciate that this is a 11. 11. Mitchell Starc (AUS) the various editions of the World risk no matter what the format, it 5. Glenn 5. Muttiah Cup, with varying degrees of success. is far more likely in a group of four AB de Villiers McGrath Michael Bevan Muralitharan Trent Boult (NZ) The original format of the World than a group of seven. India lost to Cup, which pitted eight teams in Bangladesh, and Pakistan lost to two groups of four with the top two Ireland. Both were knocked out, and progressing to the semi-finals, was the public had to deal with two weeks Four mouth-watering clashes at this World Cup viewed as successful. It lasted just over of watching (with all due respect) two a fortnight. However, this format is minnows in the Super Eight stage. Kunal Wagle picks out the four group stage matches that he is not viable now, as there are more than Unsurprisingly, ticket sales slumped. eight Test nations. The format for 2011 (and 2015) most looking forward to at this year’s World Cup. The format of the 1992 World sees two groups of seven again, but Cup has been widely accepted as with the ill-fated super stages axed very successful (even if the rules once and for all. Instead there are Australia v England weren’t – the rain rule proved to be quarter-finals before the traditional Melbourne Cricket Ground, very controversial). It had nine teams semi-finals and final. Again, I have to 14th February who all played each other in a league. say that I quite like the format. Again, Semi-finals and a final would follow. I also have to say that others find it The first game in Australia in This is the sort of format that the very long. the tournament is one of the ICC wants to implement, but it has its So, what is the best format? Well, biggest there can be. Both sides drawbacks – the obvious one being in my point of view, the ICC should will be looking to make an early that it would result in the removal of take a leaf out of their book for the statement to their group about the Associate nations from cricket’s Twenty:20 World Cup. In that, there what to expect. premier tournament. are sixteen teams – the ten Test The Associate nations view their nations and six Associate nations. India v Pakistan participation in these tournaments The bottom ranked eight teams Adelaide Oval, to be crucial for their boards to thrive have a preliminary stage with the 15th February The rivalry between India and Pakistan is fierce Photo: Asia Cup financially. A knock-on effect of top two sides qualifying for the boards earning less money is that Super Tens, which is effectively the The opening weekend ends with The two most explosive batting The two hosts play each other on grass roots cricket in the countries remaining ten teams playing in two the biggest clash of them all. India line-ups from the past year face off New Zealand’s home turf. The will suffer. And we all want younger groups of five. haven’t lost to Pakistan in a World in the crunch match in Pool B. Expect Kiwis have been in a rich vein of players to be playing cricket. If the preliminary stage was to be Cup before, but Pakistan will know fireworks from both sides in what form and have looked invincible at So, based on the assumption that a knockout tournament then the that India have never looked so tournament seeds predict will be the home recently. But Australia is also keeping the Associate Nations is a length of the overall tournament will vulnerable going into a World Cup. battle for pole position. looking incredibly strong. It takes a good thing, what other formats would be significantly shorter, while the brave person to suggest this isn’t a be better? Personally, I quite liked the Associate nations will also get their India v South Africa New Zealand v Australia potential prequel to the final. 2003 format (which had two groups of day in the sun. Melbourne Cricket Ground, Eden Park, seven and a second group stage called And most importantly, instead of 22th February 28th February the Super Sixes), but I understand arguing, we can all just get on with the where people are coming from when cricket. Issue 1597

[email protected] Sport Editor: Kunal Wagle Imperial leave it late to snatch victory against Hult Phil Gerstenburg return from Victoria Park scarred after facing a waterlogged pitch Immortals lose at home to Hurricanes 24-6

Photo: Imperial Immortals

Sunday 8th February saw the Noach managed to pick up, saw the Imperial Immortals clash with Immortals fly down the pitch. the Hertfordshire Hurricanes at This megadrive saw the Fortress Harlington. Immortals within 10 yards of Earlier in the season the the Herts endzone where the Immortals put in a great second offence punched the ball in with half and lost 22-12 after some a quarterback sneak with Toby inspired work from Bob WorksF waltzing in for the touchdown. romHomeAlone2:LostInNewYo The defense managed to win rk with the quarterback sneak of the ball back for the offence legend. several times through the efforts An artist's impression of the challenging conditions the 7th XI faced at the weekend Photo: Steve Porter Sunday’s game started with the of Marin ‘wet burp’ Tuleu getting Immortals offence on the pitch two interceptions on the day as ast Saturday IC 7s faced off It was even discussed if goals had on the ground through the pool of after a minute’s silence of respect well as Little Harry Collini causing against Hult International to be converted using the Klinsmann mud that was the pitch was their for Tony Bainbridge, former head a fumble. LBusiness School 2s in Victoria method, which was turned down best option, and this made it easy for coach of Brighton Tsunami, who However, the Herts defense Park. The day got off to a bad start by the opposition, something that the IC defence to stop their attacks. died earlier in the week. stayed strong to deny the when Giles Wane decided he would became more and more surprising Throughout the game their only The offence started strong; Immortals any more points and miss the meeting time altogether during the game as it was evident opportunities arose from set pieces – driving the ball early on, which the game finished 24-6 to Herts. after his alarm just decided it would that they all enjoyed a good dive. The but man of the match Jaime was able would become a theme throughout The Game’s Most Valuable not go off that morning. The tube referee then decided at 2pm that kick to pull off some exceptional saves in the game. Strong running from Players were: Little Harry ‘Springer’ journey to Victoria Park took us past off had actually been scheduled at goal. Emanuel Olagbaju and Duncan Collini (Line MVP for great work on all of the great sights of London, 1:30pm instead and tried to tell us During the second half IC were ‘Wendy’ MacKinnon saw yards for the offensive and defensive lines), including Whitechapel, a place both teams had shown up late. After really able to show their dominance days but as with previous games Marin ‘wet burp’ Tuleu (Defensive where one of the team feels more much discussion it was decided that and the breakthrough came in the the offence struggled to finish and MVP for consistent play of defense comfortable and cosy than anywhere 35 minute halves would be played. 67th minute (three minutes from the put the ball in the endzone. and getting two picks), Noach Ben- else in London. Hults were given kick-off as the ref end) when their keeper decided to Immortals defense were strong Haim (Offensive MVP for great Upon arrival in Victoria Park it had forgotten the coin for the toss take a leisurely country stroll back as ever and limited the normally play on the outside to keep the was clear that this was not going to be in his bag which was unfortunately into his net after punting the ball high scoring Herts offence to only drive alive several times with his 90 minutes of footballing delight. In placed 20m away on the touchline. 15 metres downfield. The ball was one touchdown in the first half, magic feet) and Jörn ‘Gorab’ Jörg fact it wasn’t going to be 90 minutes As the game kicked off it was poked through to Chris who did well which ended with Amit Chawla (Overall MVP for dominating on of anything, but more on that later. apparent that the midfield duo to score into the open goal on a pitch getting a tasty interception. both offensive and defensive lines While the changing rooms were of of Sam Monk and Euan Graham as unstable as Frank’s hands after a The second half saw the and making the QB sneak a real a more spacious variety than those was ideally suited for this style of union night. Herts offence put up two more weapon). at Fortress H, many rogue items football with their destructive ability, The day concluded with Louis touchdowns and a field goal to Special mention has to go to were found on the floor and this conquering the middle of the park offering the best treats of the season put them up by 24-0. However, Mad Dog Pecs who it was nice to encouraged a quick change allowing early. Rob Harris played his usual as he ensured that everyone received the Immortals stuck to what they see back playing the game with for more warm up time once on style with minimal running but great not only a starter but also a main knew by running the ball hard and some of his mind intact. A great the pitch. However, a quick pitch efficiency in laying off the ball to his and a dessert. Upon returning to the throwing well. performance with an unflattering inspection showed the conditions supporting cast of Ignacio Deprit, union the 7s also decided to dominate Toby Sinclair, quarterback, threw score line helping the Immortals to to be even worse than expected – Tom Fenning and Chris Caulcrick. Bola Bola with two semi-finalists, for over 100 yards on the day look forward to next week’s game the Shaguar has since considered This created opportunities early but kicking out many favourites on the including some great link-up play against the Birmingham Lions. buying the plot of land we played on Harris missed a one on one and Chris way #justice. Overall, all the players between Toby and Noach Ben- to grow his potatoes, describing the fired a free kick just over the bar. who had invested into the 7s were Haim with special mention for the SAM HILL conditions as “perfect”. Hults were convinced that playing rewarded with an exceptional return. always illusive yards-after-catch IMPERIAL IMMORTALS